Digital Avatars of Medical Practitioners in a Clinical Setting – Perceptions and Challenges in India
Padmanaban Anand Kumar
Professor of Practice, CMR University, CTO Witmer Health, Witmer Health, Bangalore, India
Nageshwara Rao Atyam
Associate Professor, CMR University, Bangalore, India
ABSTRACT:
India has one government doctor for every 950 people, as shown by figures from the National Health Profile Report 2023 on the country’s health sector. The National Health Profile 2023 report also found that 1,560,000 doctors were registered in India by the end of 2023. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a target of 1 doctor per 1,000 people to maintain an effective healthcare system. With a ratio of around 1:910, India is close to meeting this benchmark, but there are still challenges related to geographic distribution, rural-urban disparities, and the overall healthcare infrastructure. With technology like digital twins available, there is an exciting case for developing digital twins for medical doctors, which can be used to address this vast gap in the doctor-patient ratio. While many potential opportunities exist in using Digital Twins For Doctors (DTDs), understanding their limitations is also essential. The use of DTDs can have both social and legal implications. Understanding the perceptions around benefits, pain points, and challenges among the stakeholders in the healthcare system in India will help understand how DTDs can be effectively used to supplement clinical care activities. Surveys were conducted with 1351 stakeholders, including doctors, healthcare administrators, students pursuing medicine, and active patients. All data was reviewed for accuracy. Using a combination of closed and open-ended questions, statistical analysis, word cloud and thematic analysis were attempted. We discuss the practical implications of these findings for interpreting the use of DTDs in clinical settings in India and the role of stakeholders in the evaluation and implementation of DTDs.
Published in: International Journal of Research in Engineering, Science and Management (Volume 7, Issue 12, December 2024)
Page(s): 11-22
Date of Publication: 11/12/2024
Publisher: IJRESM
Cite as: Padmanaban Anand Kumar, Nageshwara Rao Atyam, “Digital Avatars of Medical Practitioners in a Clinical Setting – Perceptions and Challenges in India,” in International Journal of Research in Engineering, Science and Management, vol. 7, no. 12, pp. 11-22, December 2024.