MEDICO-LEGAL ASPECT OF TELEMEDICINE IN INDIA – Lalita Devi & Sahibpreet Singh

Abstract

India’s healthcare industry is expanding quickly, yet compared to wealthy countries, spending on healthcare is still relatively low. Healthcare service quality and accessibility are significant issues that need to be resolved. The improvement of the standard of medical and healthcare services requires a significant contribution from both public and private entities. Most people in India live in rural areas with little healthcare and health insurance access. A new platform for providing rural communities with faster, more accessible, and more affordable medical care is telemedicine. Despite several efforts, telemedicine is struggling to establish a foothold in the healthcare industry. To ensure that healthcare practitioners adhere to standards, establish a legal framework for licensure, and promote adoption, appropriate legislation is necessary for the successful deployment of telemedicine. This research paper aims to examine different telemedicine initiatives and analyze the factors that have contributed to the growth of telemedicine in India, including technological, demographic, geographic, legal, and psychological aspects, as well as economic and technological factors. The legal framework is essential for telemedicine because it gives precise instructions that allow medical professionals to work outside of state borders, expanding access to remote places. In order to protect patient data and promote confidence in interactions between remote healthcare providers, strict privacy rules must also be implemented. The development and efficacy of telemedicine can be encouraged by properly-crafted rules, which will benefit patients and healthcare professionals.

Keywords: AI, Healthcare Sector Telemedicine, Healthcare Services, Legal Framework, Medical Sector

Introduction

Innovations in artificial intelligence for diagnosis, personalized treatment, wearable technology, telemedicine, and health monitoring are significant advances the medical field is currently experiencing. The creation of COVID-19 vaccines is an example of how mRNA vaccine technology has gained importance. In contrast, CRISPR gene-editing technology has shown promise for treating genetic problems.[1] These technological advancements are intended to improve patient care, boost productivity, revolutionize healthcare delivery, advance precision medicine, offer fresh approaches to illness prevention and treatment, and improve overall health outcomes. Since telemedicine removes obstacles based on geography and makes healthcare services available to people in underserved or distant locations, it has emerged as the most significant breakthrough in the healthcare sector. Patients’ ability to communicate with medical professionals virtually and receive treatment and advice from the comfort of their homes promotes convenience and flexibility. Those with hectic schedules, chronic illnesses, or mobility impairments find this helpful. Because telemedicine eliminates the need for infrastructure associated with in-person appointments and minimizes travel expenses, it has helped to lower healthcare costs. Additionally, it avoids unnecessary emergency room visits through early intervention and remote monitoring.

Telemedicine makes it possible for medical professionals to efficiently prioritize patients based on their urgency so that resources can be allocated appropriately. It has made it easier to quickly consult for more straightforward cases, freeing up in-person meetings for more complicated ones. Physicians may monitor patients with chronic diseases remotely with telemedicine, minimizing the need for frequent hospital visits and guaranteeing prompt intervention. With its ability to maintain healthcare services while reducing the risk of virus transmission, telemedicine proved indispensable during the COVID-19 pandemic. Screening, consultations, and follow-up care all become reliant on it.[2] Technological developments in communication, such as secure messaging, mobile health apps, and video conferencing, have made it easier to incorporate telemedicine into the current healthcare systems. Telemedicine has emerged as a significant and game-changing innovation in the healthcare industry through the provision of remote medical services; telemedicine plays a critical role in meeting the present needs in healthcare.

Telemedicine is critical in breaking down geographical boundaries and enhancing access to healthcare in India. It enables patients to consult with medical experts, particularly in remote places. The proliferation of telemedicine services has been enabled by the growing prevalence of cell phones and improved internet connectivity. This technique provides prompt consultations, encourages early action, and helps solve the deficiency of healthcare infrastructure in some areas. However, to ensure the successful and extensive use of telemedicine in India, issues like infrastructure constraints, regulatory frameworks, and digital literacy still require attention.

Meaning and Scope of Telemedicine

Telemedicine refers to providing healthcare services, including consultations, diagnosis, and treatment, remotely using telecommunications technology.[3] It entails a patient and a healthcare provider exchanging medical information, usually over the phone, internet messaging, or video calls. Patients can now obtain medical knowledge remotely thanks to telemedicine, which removes geographic boundaries and increases access to healthcare, particularly in places with few medical facilities or circumstances that make in-person visits difficult, such as during a pandemic.

The term “telemedicine” was coined in the early 20th century. It combines two words, ‘tele’ and ‘modern’. The word “tele” is derived from the Greek word meaning “distant” or “at a distance”, and “mederi” is a Latin word meaning “to heal”.[4] Time Magazine called telemedicine “healing by wire”. The notion of telecom-enabled remote medical consultations and healthcare delivery has developed over time, but the term itself became more well-known as these practices proliferated, particularly with the introduction of sophisticated communication technologies in the second half of the 20th century. Since then, many communication methods and technology have been used to provide healthcare services remotely, and the phrase has gained widespread use. Telemedicine was formerly thought to be “futuristic” and “experimental,” but it is now a daily occurrence and here to stay. Numerous fields, including public health, education, research, and administration, can benefit from telemedicine.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO)[5]

“Telemedicine is the delivery of healthcare services, where distance is a critical factor, by all healthcare professionals using information and communication technologies for the exchange of valid information for diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease and injuries, research and evaluation, and for the continuing education of healthcare providers, all in the interests of advancing the health of individuals and their communities.” 

In order to enable healthcare practitioners to offer a variety of services remotely, this concept strongly emphasizes the use of technology to bridge geographic distances. Some other organizations and professionals offer more sophisticated definitions of telemedicine in addition to the World Health Organization.

According to American Telemedicine Association (ATA)[6]

“Telemedicine is the use of medical information exchanged from one site to another via electronic communications to improve a patient’s clinical health status.”

According to the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), telehealth is,

 “Electronic information and telecommunications technologies to support long-distance clinical healthcare, patient and professional health-related education, public health, and health administration.”

According to Telemedicine and e-Health Journal, telemedicine is,

 “The use of advanced telecommunications technologies to exchange health information and provide health care services across geographic, time, social, and cultural barriers.” 

All of these criteria highlight how technology can be used to provide remote healthcare services, covering a variety of medical procedures and exchanges. They draw attention to how telemedicine can improve patient outcomes, increase accessibility to healthcare, and get around time and location-related obstacles.

Telemedicine uses a range of technology, such as secure messaging platforms, mobile health apps, video conferencing, and telephone consultations, to provide distant healthcare services.[7] It includes a wide range of medical services, from standard examinations and follow-ups to specialist consultations in fields like psychiatry and dermatology, among others.

Key Aspects of Telemedicine Include:

1. Remote Consultations: Patients can consult with medical professionals from the convenience of their own homes, saving money and minimizing the need for travel.
2. Medical Imaging and Diagnostics: By enabling the transmission of medical pictures, specific telemedicine platforms enable specialists to diagnose and interpret patients remotely.
3. Remote Monitoring: Wearable devices that track vital signs and send real-time data to healthcare experts can be used to monitor patients with chronic diseases remotely.
4. Telepsychiatry: People can now access mental health practitioners remotely due to the growing availability of mental health services via telemedicine.[8]
5. Education and Training: Medical educators and trainees can stay current on their skills and knowledge by using telemedicine.
6. Pharmacy Services: Patients can place online prescription orders and deliver their meds right to their door with specific telemedicine platforms with pharmacy integrations.

Technological developments, more accessible access to the Internet, and awareness of telemedicine’s potential to enhance accessibility and efficiency in healthcare, particularly in areas with healthcare issues, have all contributed to its rapid expansion. In order to integrate it into healthcare systems worldwide as effectively as possible, continual efforts are being made to overcome ethical, technological, and regulatory issues in this developing field.

History of Telemedicine

Around 500 BC, Greece and Rome were the birthplaces of telemedicine when it was still in its infancy. Those were the days when human messengers would travel between towns to deliver medical advice and prescription drugs. Medical information was transmitted through media such as smoke signals and light reflections. These were employed, mainly when communicating across great distances, to signify health catastrophes such as epidemics, fatalities, and plagues.[9] The telegraph was an incredible device that revolutionized combat.

Civil war-era records indicate that the United States used electronic health information for the first time. In addition to helping with strategic planning, the telegraph enabled the Union Army to record casualties, order medical supplies, and communicate with wounded from the action. In Australia, a wounded person’s medical cart was helped by a telegraph in 1874. Alexander Graham Bell’s invention of the telephone in 1876 made a connected world possible. Even though phones are a luxury we take for granted now, this ground-breaking invention profoundly affected people’s lives back then. The telephone quickly found application in the medical field. A study published in The Lancet Journal in 1879 described the telephone’s promise in the medical field. In order to assess whether a baby had croup, it explained how a doctor would listen to the child’s cough over a phone receiver.[10]

As signal quality increased over time, the telephone network proliferated alongside it. The telephone became a standard tool for long-distance communication in the 1900s. Using a telephone, Willem Einthoven brought heart sounds from a hospital to his laboratory in 1905. The first American electrocardiography review was published in 1910 by New York cardiologists. According to the study, cables successfully transmitted electrocardiograms (ECGs) from the wards to the ECG room. In the same year, English engineer Sidney Brown reportedly modified telephone technology to enable physicians to diagnose patients accurately by listening to the sound of a stethoscope a patient was holding from a distance. In 1920, the Haukeland Hospital in Norway began utilizing two-way radio transmission to facilitate medical treatment for seafarers by connecting physicians with ships. In the ensuing ten years, several nations adopted two-way radio communication. Mobile two-way radios were first used by Victoria, Australia’s police forces, in 1923 for reporting injuries requiring medical treatment and intercom with other officers while on duty.

The magazine Radio News presented what Is thought to be the original concept of telemedicine in April 1924. In the magazine, remote patient-physician connection via television and microphone was called “radio doctoring.”[11] Radio News depicted a patient receiving medical care through television, but this was a vision of the future for the magazine at the time; most Americans lacked televisions in their homes. The concept from the magazine was the first to foresee the delivery of treatment remotely and brought two-way video communication to the healthcare industry, opening up new possibilities for telemedicine in the future. Certain services that doctors cannot do over the phone are restricted. With two-way video, though, they could treat patients for various ailments that called for in-person examination. Due to significant technological advancements, two-way live video meetings between physicians and patients were impossible. Expanding the communications network to support widespread telemedicine projects made this forecast a reality.

Two-way video transmission was established in history and became a reality for telemedicine as the 1950s concluded. The University of Nebraska was at the forefront of the country’s first telemedicine application of two-way video communication. In 1959, physicians transmitted neurological exams to medical students across campus using interactive video transmission.[12] It is widely acknowledged as the first instance of telemedicine using real-time video communication. Following suit, numerous colleges around the US began utilizing telemedicine in classroom environments, mainly concentrating on sending medical data such as X-rays, ECGs, stethoscope sounds, etc. In the 1960s, telemedicine made significant progress. A large-scale telemedicine project was started by the Indian Health Service, Lockheed Corporation, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Using the same telecommunications technologies initially designed for NASA astronauts, the primary goal of the Space Technology Applied to Rural Papago Advanced Health Care (STARPAHC) project was to make healthcare more accessible on American Indian reservations. Rural healthcare delivery was made more accessible, and satellite communication considerably broadened telemedicine potential.

Many smaller communities in Alaska, including major hospitals, could access the Internet in 1972 because of NASA’s Applications Technology Satellite (ATS-1). Over the next few years, telemedicine saw a significant expansion due to the success of STARPHAC and the development of satellite communication capabilities. Telemedicine’s primary applications in the 1970s and 1980s included

• sending radiological images,
• treating patients in conflict areas,
• treating patients at distant research stations in the Arctic and Antarctic, and
• providing prisoners with healthcare at prisons without transferring them to a hospital.

Reserving a room in Arizona, USA, involves connecting doctors at Sells and Phoenix, Arizona, USA hospitals with patients in mobile support units in these isolated places. NASA first employed telemedicine services in 1985 during the Mexico City earthquake. Later, in 1988, during the Soviet Armenia earthquake, when over 50,000 people were estimated to have died and about 500,000 were left homeless, telemedicine was also used in disaster management. Thus began the era of global cooperation in the application of telemedicine for much broader humanitarian goals.[13]

Even the most prosperous telemedicine initiatives failed to last for more than 20 years before the 1990s, primarily due to the large, costly, and complicated technology that required a great deal of training to function well. The Internet has made Remote healthcare delivery more profitable and economical. Offering new methods for sending data over long distances increased telemedicine services’ efficacy and reach. Through the Internet, physicians may transport massive amounts of data at breakneck speeds, purchase the telemedicine equipment they need for significantly less money, and communicate with their patients who live far away more conveniently.[14]

Broadband Internet access made it easier for doctors and patients to conduct virtual appointments, which led to a surge in the use of telemedicine and telehealth. These days, doctors use cutting-edge tools like digital cameras and wearable technology to conduct remote patient exams and provide telemedicine services instantly. Additionally, electronic medical records (EMRs) can be created by medical facilities online, which simplifies healthcare administration. The emergence of the Internet and enhanced connectivity in the 21st century led to a notable surge in telemedicine. Online consultations, digital health platforms, and remote patient monitoring proliferated. Telemedicine has become increasingly popular to deliver healthcare while reducing in-person interactions, thanks partly to the COVID-19 pandemic. With the development of technology, telemedicine has become increasingly important in the modern healthcare system, particularly in rural areas where access to care is limited.

Telemedicine in India

Telemedicine in India has a history that spans several decades, but its significant expansion and recognition gained momentum in recent years. The COVID-19 pandemic has presented significant issues for the Indian health sector, leading to a rise in the use of telemedicine. It fills in gaps in healthcare delivery by providing greater accessibility to follow-up treatment, diagnostic services, and medical consultations. To support telemedicine, the government has taken action and established rules to guarantee its moral and legal application. Even though there are benefits, issues like digital literacy and internet access must be resolved for widespread acceptance and efficacy.

Evolution of Telemedicine in India:

1. Early Initiatives (2000s): In India, the beginning of the new millennium saw the launch of several experimental initiatives, including telemedicine. In order to deliver healthcare services in rural and underserved areas, these programs sought to use technology.
2. Apollo Hospitals: The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) connected Chennai’s Apollo Rural Hospital in Aragonda village, Andhra Pradesh, as part of a Telemedicine Pilot Project in 2001, marking a modest beginning for telemedicine in India. Apollo Hospitals, a well-known medical facility in India, was one of the first to use telemedicine.[15]
3. Government Recognition (2010s): Telemedicine was incorporated into the 2017 National Health Policy by the Indian government, which acknowledged its potential. On the other hand, the wider acceptance and implementation of telemedicine were sped up by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
4. COVID-19 Pandemic (2020): Demand for remote healthcare services increased due to the pandemic’s requirement for lockdowns and social isolation. A legal framework for the widespread use of telemedicine was released in March 2020 by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
5. Guidelines and Regulation: The 2020 guidelines described the standards for drug prescription, patient records, teleconsultations, and patient confidentiality. These rules were essential in giving telemedicine practitioners a legal framework and ethical standards.
6. Technology and Startups: Telemedicine has grown in India due to improved internet accessibility, the introduction of cutting-edge technology, and the emergence of businesses focused on digital health. Patients and healthcare providers could communicate easily thanks to web and mobile applications.

In summary, telemedicine’s origins in India date back to the early 2000s, but the COVID-19 pandemic’s pressing medical demands, government acceptance, and technology developments combined to push telemedicine into the country’s mainstream. The regulations about telemedicine in the nation have been significantly shaped by the guidelines that were released in 2020.

In the Indian healthcare industry, telemedicine refers to using digital platforms, mobile apps, and video conferencing, among other technological tools, to enable distant medical consultations. In order to control telemedicine practices and ensure uniformity and ethical considerations, the Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare published guidelines in March 2020. These guidelines give medical professionals a framework for lawfully conducting remote consultations. Telemedicine improves healthcare access, especially in isolated and rural locations with potentially inadequate physical infrastructure. Doctors can confer with patients without requiring long trips, which saves time and money. In India, telemedicine systems have been introduced by numerous startups and well-established healthcare providers. These platforms provide various services, such as scheduling diagnostic tests, online consultations, and prescription delivery. Although telemedicine has demonstrated tremendous promise, there are still obstacles to overcome, such as problems with digital literacy, internet connectivity, and the requirement for adequate infrastructure. In order to guarantee that telemedicine benefits a larger population, these obstacles must be overcome. Patients’ and healthcare providers’ acceptance of telemedicine has grown, particularly after the epidemic.

However, ongoing efforts are needed to raise knowledge and foster confidence in remote healthcare services. Even after the pandemic, telemedicine is likely to be necessary. It provides a practical means of managing chronic illnesses, scheduling follow-up appointments, and accessing preventive healthcare. In India, the telemedicine regulatory landscape is still developing. Maintaining telemedicine’s ethical and secure practice will require keeping up with technical developments and tackling new problems. In general, telemedicine in the Indian health sector is a vibrant and developing field with the potential to enhance healthcare delivery and accessibility nationwide.

Legal Implications on Telemedicine in India

The Department of Information Technology and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare are in charge of the telemedicine service in India. A National Telemedicine Portal has also been established by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India’s Telemedicine division.[16]In India, telemedicine has also been used in traditional medicine through initiatives like the National Rural AYUSH Telemedicine Network, which uses telecommunications to spread the word about the advantages of traditional medical techniques to the general public.[17] The legal ramifications of telemedicine in India include the necessity to follow the Telemedicine Practice Guidelines, which specify patient record-keeping requirements, data confidentiality, and the obligations of healthcare professionals. In order to guarantee the legal legality of telemedicine practices, practitioners must adhere to these principles. Furthermore, it is critical to comprehend and abide by any data protection legislation, such as the Personal Data Protection Bill, while working with patient information. Healthcare professionals involved in telemedicine must be updated about any modifications or changes in rules, as the legal landscape constantly evolves.

The Telemedicine Practice Guidelines, 2020[18]

Before 2020, there were few concerns regarding telemedicine, mainly due to the need for more guidelines and the ambiguity. In response to the national crisis and the need to enforce social distancing and eliminate needless patient travel to clinics and hospitals, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, released the Telemedicine Practice Guidelines on March 25, 2020. These guidelines were developed in collaboration with Niti Aayog (also called “The National Institution for Transforming India” – which is the premier policy Think Tank of the Government of India, providing both directional and policy inputs) and aim to offer a framework for healthcare practitioners who engage in telemedicine as well as practical guidance to physicians so they can begin utilizing telemedicine as part of their regular practice. These guidelines’ main components are as follows:

1. Registration and Licensing: Healthcare professionals offering telemedicine must be registered with their respective state medical councils’ services.
2. Standard of Care: The guidelines emphasize maintaining the same standard of care in telemedicine as in traditional in-person consultations. The doctor-patient relationship should be established before providing teleconsultation.
3. Patient Consent: Informed consent from the patient is crucial, detailing telemedicine consultations’ limitations and possible risks.
4. Prescription Guidelines: Telemedicine practitioners can prescribe medications electronically, keeping in mind the state and national laws governing the prescription of drugs.
5. Data Security: Ensuring the confidentiality and security of patient data is vital. Healthcare providers must use secure and encrypted platforms for telemedicine consultations.
6. Continuing Medical Education: Through continuous medical education, Healthcare professionals are encouraged to stay updated on telemedicine technologies and best practices.
7. Interstate Telemedicine: The guidelines allow for interstate teleconsultations, recognizing that healthcare providers may not always be physically present in the same state as the patient.

Telemedicine Practice, released by the Board of Governors in supersession of the Medical Council of India (MCI), were the principal regulatory framework for telemedicine in India. These guidelines supplied a set of standards for the use of telemedicine in the nation. Furthermore, part of the regulation of electronic communication and transactions, including some telemedicine-related issues, is done through the Information Technology (IT) Act of 2000. The ethical and legal practice of telemedicine in India depends on adherence to these criteria. Healthcare professionals should periodically verify if these guidelines and other pertinent rules have been updated or modified.

Role of AI in Telemedicine

Artificial intelligence is an offshoot of computer wisdom that deals with machines/software that perform tasks that generally bear mortal mind. AI has been applied to varied disciplines, including healthcare, where it can have benefits like polishing the quality and effectiveness of care, enhancing patient experience and satisfaction, reducing expenditures and errors, and enabling access to healthcare services for people who live in remote or underserved regions.[19]

Telemedicine is the practice of furnishing healthcare services through telecommunications technologies, similar to phone calls, video conferencing, mobile operations, or Internet-based platforms. Telemedicine can grease the delivery of care across geographical boundaries, reduce trip time and charges for cases and providers, increase convenience and inflexibility for cases who prefer to admit care at home or in their preferred site and ameliorate the collaboration and durability of care among different healthcare providers.[20]

AI can amplify the capabilities of physicians and other healthcare professionals. AI can aid them in varied aspects of telemedicine practice, similar to:

1. Information analysis and collaboration– AI can help dissect large quantities of data from varied sources, such as electronic health records (EHRs), medical images, laboratory tests, wearable devices, social media posts, etc., to induce perceptivity supporting clinical decision-making. For illustration, AI can help identify patterns or trends in patient data that may indicate a threat factor or an opinion for a particular condition. AI can also facilitate collaboration among healthcare providers using telemedicine platforms by enabling them to share information securely and efficiently through standard norms and protocols.
2. Remote case monitoring– AI can help cover the health status of cases at home or in other locations using detectors or devices that collect biometric data (such as heart rate, blood pressure, temperature) or behavioural data (such as sleep quality). For illustration, AI can help describe abnormal patterns or changes in these data that may indicate a deterioration or enhancement in the case’s condition. AI can also warn the physician or caregiver if an exigency situation requires immediate attention.
3. Intelligent diagnostics and aid– AI can help diagnose conditions or conditions grounded on the symptoms reported by the case or the data collected from varied sources.[21] For illustration, AI can help classify conditions into orders based on their characteristics or outcomes using machine learning algorithms. AI can also give a helping hand to physicians during diagnosis by suggesting possible diagnoses based on previous knowledge or substantiation-based guidelines. For illustration, AI can help induce differential diagnoses based on multiple-choice questions asked by the physician.[22]
4. Education and training– AI can help educate and train physicians and other healthcare professionals who use telemedicine platforms by furnishing them with interactive simulations or scenarios that mimic real-life situations.[23]For illustration, AI can help produce virtual cases with realistic symptoms and medical histories that bear opinion and treatment based on different cases. AI can also give feedback and guidance to physicians during diagnosis by emphasizing their strengths and shortcomings.[24]

The function of AI in telemedicine is anticipated to grow significantly in the future as more people take up telemedicine platforms due to its advantages over traditional face-to-face care.[25] AI can give varied benefits and opportunities for telemedicine practice, like enabling access to healthcare services for people who live in remote or underserved areas.[26]Still, the part of AI in telemedicine is a complex and multifaceted content that involves varied challenges and dangers for telemedicine practice, like as ethical dilemmas, legal uncertainties, safety hazards, quality issues, cost-effectiveness questions, user acceptance barriers, and technical limitations. Thus, it is essential for physicians and other healthcare professionals who use telemedicine platforms to be apprehensive of these aspects, benefits, challenges, and dangers of AI in telemedicine and to take up apt measures, strategies, or solutions to address them.[27]

Conclusion 

In summary, telemedicine has shown to be an effective instrument in the healthcare industry, providing better accessibility, effectiveness, and convenience for medical professionals and patients. Telemedicine’s uptake has quickened due to significant world emergencies like the COVID-19 epidemic. Telemedicine has made healthcare access more accessible, especially for those living in rural or underdeveloped locations. Cost reductions and streamlined procedures are two further advantages of telemedicine. However, there are obstacles to overcome, like legal uncertainties, privacy concerns, and technological limitations. In order to improve connectivity and guarantee that a larger population can utilize telemedicine services, digital infrastructure should be improved. Standardized laws governing telemedicine are required to give it a foundation for application and to guarantee patient safety and quality. To optimize the advantages of virtual healthcare, patients and healthcare providers should obtain sufficient training on telemedicine procedures and technologies. Strong cybersecurity measures must also be implemented to safeguard patient information, handle privacy issues, and promote confidence in telemedicine platforms. Successfully navigating these issues will be essential to telemedicine’s full potential in transforming healthcare delivery.

[1] Satyendra Prakash, “mRNA-Based Nanomedicine: A New Strategy for Treating Infectious Diseases and Beyond” European Journal of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, Vol. 48 (September 2023).

[2] Anthony Jnr Bokolo, “Application of Telemedicine and Ehealth Technology for Clinical Services in Response to COVID‑19 Pandemic” Health and Technology, Vol. 11, No.2 (January 2021).

[3] Marilyn J. Field. (ed.),“A Guide to Assessing Telecommunications for Health Care” (Washington DC: National Academy Press, 1996).

[4] Ragni Kumari, “Indian Medicine and Telemedicine (for allied and paramedical professionals” (India: Blue Rose Publishers, 2021).

[5] WHO, “A Health Telematics Policy Supporting WHO’s Health-For-All Strategy for Global Health Development: Report of the WHO Group Consultation on Health Telematics” (December 1998).

[6] ATA, “ATA’s Standardized Telehealth Terminology and Policy Language for States on Medical Practice” retrieved from https://www.americantelemed.org/ ,visited on November 20, 2023.

[7] Raghbir Singh Khandpur, “Telemedicine Technology and Applications (mHealth, TeleHealth and eHealth” (PHI Learning: New Delhi, 2017).

[8] O’Brien, M., and F. McNicholas, “The Use of Telepsychiatry During Covid-19 and Beyond” Irish Journal Of Psychological Medicine, Vol. 37, No. 4 (Мaу 2020).

[9]QuicSolv, “History of Telemedicine: Timeline through the Ages,” retrieved from https://www.quicsolv.com/telemedicine/history-of-telemedicine/ visited on November 17, 2023.

[10] Gerald W Grumet, “Telephone Therapy: A Review and Case Report” American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, Vol. 49, No. 4 (September 1979).

[11] Marilyn J. Field, loc.cit.

[12]Ibid.

[13] Aishani Singh, “Telemedicine and Law: An Indian Perspective” retrieved fromhttps://iiprd.wordpress.com/2020/05/13/telemedicine-law-an-indianperspective/?utm_source=mondaq&utm_medium=syndication&utm_term=Food-Drugs-Healthcare-Life-Sciences&utm_content=articleoriginal&utm_campaign=articlevisited on November 21, 2023.

[14] Carylee Gali, “History of Telemedicine”retrieved from https://blog.curogram.com/history-of-telemedicinevisited on November 21, 2023.

[15]TeleVital, “ISRO Telemedicine Initiative” retrieved from http://www.televital.com/downloads/ISRO-Telemedicine-Initiative.pdfvisited on November 21, 2023.

[16] Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, “National Telemedicine Portal” retrieved from http://nmcn.in/visited on November 21, 2023.

[17] AYUSH,“AYUSH Telemedicine Report,” retrieved from http://ayush.gov.in/sites/default/files/report%20on%20TeleMedicine_1.pdf visited on November 20, 2023.

[18]Telemedicine Practice Guidelines, March 25 2020, retrieved from https://www.mohfw.gov.in/pdf/Telemedicine.pdf visited on November 22, 2023.

[19]“Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare: The Future is Amazing” Healthcare Weekly, November 3, 2023, retrieved from https://healthcareweekly.com/artificial-intelligence-in-healthcare/visited on December 24, 2023.

[20] Niklas Lidstromer and Hutan Ashrafian. (ed.), Artificial Intelligence in Medicine (Cham: Springer International Publishing, 2020) retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-58080-3 visited on December 24, 2023.

[21]“Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare – Javatpoint” retrieved fromhttps://www.javatpoint.com/artificial-intelligence-in-healthcare visited on December 24, 2023.

[22] Diana Gina Poalelungi et al., “Advancing Patient Care: How Artificial Intelligence Is Transforming Healthcare” Journal of Personalized Medicine, Vol.13, No.8 (2023).

[23]“eSanjeevani” retrieved from https://esanjeevani.mohfw.gov.in/#/visited on December 24, 2023.

[24] Maya Banerjee et al., “The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Clinical Education: Perceptions of Postgraduate Trainee Doctors in London (UK) And Recommendations For Trainers” BMC Medical Education, Vol.21, No.1 (2021).

[25]“Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare” Wikipedia, December 14, 2023, retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Artificial_intelligence_in_healthcare&oldid=1189843779 visited on December 24, 2023.

[26]“AI in Health Care: Applications, Benefits, and Examples” Coursera, November 29 2023, retrieved from https://www.coursera.org/articles/ai-in-health-care visited on December 24, 2023.

[27]“Telemedicine: Definition, Uses, Benefits, and More,”retrieved from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/telemedicine visited on December 24, 2023.