News Excerpt:

A study by researchers at an eye institute, has found another advantage of telemedicine i.e. lower emissions.

About Telemedicine: 

• The World Health Organization (WHO) defines Telemedicine as, “The delivery of healthcare services, where distance is a critical factor, by all healthcare professionals using Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) for the exchange of valid information for diagnosis and treatment, all in the interests of advancing the health of individuals and their communities.”
• Telemedicine has emerged as a viable alternative to in-person consultations with doctors in many contexts because it saves patients time and expenses, which can be considerable if they are located in remote areas and/or are not well-to-do. 
• But as more people pick this option, another advantage is coming to the fore: lower emissions.

Here are the key points about the carbon footprint of the healthcare sector:

• In India, where 70% of the population lives in villages, hospital visits often require long-distance travel to urban centers, contributing to a significant carbon footprint.
• Vehicular emissions are a major contributor to local pollution and global warming, with about 88% of carbon dioxide emissions in India coming from road traffic.
• Studies in high-income countries show that telemedicine is patient- and environment-friendly for healthcare service delivery.
• The study also found that over a three-month period, 
• Teleconsultation led to 1,666 fewer kilometers of travel for patients and an average reduction of 176.6 kg of carbon dioxide emissions.
• India's healthcare sector emitted 74 million tonnes of carbon dioxide in 2014, around 3% of the country's total emissions that year.
• As the demand for health services increases, the paradoxical harm to health due to emissions from the healthcare sector is likely to increase as well. Thus, healthcare systems should work towards carbon neutrality.