The Myth about Medical Aggregators Turning into a Dying Breed

Looking back at 2015, the sudden explosion of healthcare aggregators came into our notice, opening doors to a digitalized medical industry.Digital health start-ups attracted $5.8 billion (approx. Rs. 39241 crores) in funding worldwide in 2015. At the home fronttoo, there has good amount of funding activity, which has caused a radical shift in the healthcare industry in India.

The hype is real; internet and its applications have definitely brought a dynamic change in the industry, becoming one of the most promising sectors in today’s time. Undeniably, it is the advent of technology that has transformed our lives, enabling all commercial activities- from shopping to hotel booking, to take place on a virtual medium such as the internet. What’s interesting is the fact that the healthcare sector has also joined the bandwagon, followed byan unprecedented rise in medical aggregators in the country.

According to a World Bank survey in 2012, there is one doctor per 1,700 patients in India. This deficit in doctors highlights theincapacities and the appalling condition of the existing healthcare sector. Clearly there is room for growth, and this is where medical aggregators come into the picture.They provide a wholesome platform for patients, offering greater accessibility to quality medical services, connecting medical professionals to the masses.

Technological intervention is what the current healthcare system demands, especially amidst spiralling medical expense, poor infrastructure and low-quality healthcare. In a financially stretched healthcare market, medical technology is perceived as an expensive luxury. This is why medical aggregators are gaining popularity, as they work on a model that enhancesconvenience and accessibility to quality medical services.

Today, people are leading busy lifestyles and hectic work schedules, which justify the quick adoption and popularization of digital medical services such as online or video consultations. Digital medical platforms offer the complete package- from online consultations, digital medical records to doorstep delivery of medicines.

In this era of Uber and Amazon, people seek convenience, placing their trust on digital mediums that ensure reliability and a hassle free experience. Without having to leave the privacy and comforts of your home, you can take advantage of quality health care that is at practically at your doorstep.

Through such digital platforms, it is possible to book an appointment with doctors online, saving you the effort, time and cost of travel and repeated hospital trips. You can directly consult reputed doctors and medical professionals, request online diagnoses and treatment, and even OPD care. This direct access disengages the need for middle-men, substantially lowering medical costs. This is how medical aggregators help cut the overall cost of medical treatment, increase the accessibility of reliable doctors and improve patient outcomes.

Although the digital healthcare sector is at a nascent stage in India, there is much scope for growth. The penetration of smartphones in our lives has encouraged people of all age groups to access internet on their mobile devices, making it easier for them to adapt to this unconventional approach to healthcare.

In a massively populated country like India, the emergence of IT in the medical sector is definitely contributing to better healthcare. This is why it is imperative to embrace digital technologies and implement well-thought models that have the potential to accelerate public health in laying the foundation of a strong and prosperous India.
In a nutshell, there is no denying the positive impact of medical platforms on the healthcare sector. Medical aggregators have changed the dynamics on how patients perceive and receive medical assistance. Through a unique operating model, such platforms are changing the healthcare paradigm, successfully fulfilling the needs of a modern consumer.

By Captain Sameer Singh, Founder & CEO, Medifixit