One of the global markets with the quickest rate of growth is telemedicine. A study by Allied Market Research projects that the market will expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 25.90% between 2021 and 2030. The market, estimated to be worth $40.21 billion in 2020, is expected to grow by almost 11 times to a staggering $431.82 billion globally by the end of 2030.

What is Telemedicine?

Through technology like video calls and secure messaging, telemedicine allows doctors to care for patients from a distance, including checking their health, figuring out what's wrong, and even providing treatment. It has been more evident recently—particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic—that telemedicine is probably going to play a significant role in primary healthcare.

In a nation like ours, where over half of the population lacks access to qualified physicians due to inadequate primary healthcare needs, telemedicine can be a critical component in closing the present gap in the market. To put things into perspective, the author would like to draw attention to the fact that, as per the Pakistan Medical Commission, there are 271,560 registered doctors in the nation, with 46.9% of them being female and 53.1% being male. With a population of over 230 million, there are, on paper, 1.18 doctors registered for every 1,000 people in Pakistan. The author uses the phrase "on paper" to imply that every certified physician works in Pakistan.

The existing statistics have the drawback of not accurately reflecting the situation on the ground. Based solely on the statistics, it would imply that there is a doctor in every community with a thousand residents or more. In actuality, though, it is greatly skewed due to several factors, such as the large number of female doctors who are not practising due to an unfavourable work environment, the immigration of doctors seeking better opportunities overseas, and the reluctance of qualified medical professionals to work in smaller towns and cities due to a lack of income opportunities.

The fact that some 25,000 doctors work overseas is not shocking. The fact that there are still less than 50% of female doctors in the medical workforce, even though there are between 80 and 85 per cent of female doctors in medical colleges in Pakistan, makes the situation worse. After graduation, around half of the female students are expected to not pursue a career in medicine. Farhat Moazam and Sualeha Sheikhani have drawn attention to the fact that parents in Pakistan actively encourage their daughters to pursue medical education, viewing it as the most respectable path and a safety net if a marriage doesn't work out. But all they become, in the end, are doctor-brides.

According to the organisation's 2021 report, Pakistan's healthcare system performs poorly, ranking 130th out of 195 nations with a 30.4 Index Score on the Global Health Security Index (GHSI). One of the main causes of illnesses that can be easily prevented or managed by receiving an early diagnosis spiralling out of control is a lack of or restricted access to doctors for primary care. This forces the patient to seek secondary or tertiary care, adding to the burden that our health system may be unable to handle.

Given the foregoing, the government must develop laws that would promote the use of telemedicine technology because it is not feasible to generate the necessary number of doctors to meet demand. There is just not this much production capability at our universities. In the unlikely event that they were able to, the majority of doctors do not find it profitable to practice in suburbs, villages, or small districts; therefore, the issue would still exist. Once qualified, a doctor would naturally prefer larger cities for better practice prospects and a better lifestyle.

The government ought to mandate teleconsultations before in-person visits to clinics and hospitals. The patient should only go to a clinic or hospital if there is a medical emergency requiring immediate medical attention or if the teleconsultant has urged them to see a doctor in person. In addition to lessening the strain on Pakistan's healthcare system, this will, more crucially, democratise access to healthcare and save people money on gas and time when they must travel in person to visit a doctor. Unavoidably, the number of female doctors who are currently denied practising possibilities will also be able to assist the nation.

Thankfully, people are increasingly willing to use technology to meet most of their demands, and businesses are actively attempting to create comprehensive solutions as well. Nowadays, numerous businesses have developed mobile and web applications that have simplified the process of corresponding with doctors virtually. But to reduce the strain on our healthcare system and, more importantly, create opportunities for out-of-practice physicians, particularly female physicians, to work remotely, the government must support this industry and offer incentives. The government must move immediately!