India’s telemedicine market which has been growing at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 20 per cent holds the potential to cross $32 million (mn) mark by 2020 from the current level of over $15 mn. Improved access to specialists, increased patient satisfaction with care, improved clinical outcomes, reduction in emergency room utilisation, cost savings are certain key benefits of telemedicine.

During the course of past decade (2005-09) the number of sub-centres across India has increased by about 6,300, the number of primary health centres (PHCs) has increased by about 1,800 and there has been a rise of over 2,000 in the number of community health centres.

Amid states, it is Jharkhand, West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh face maximum shortage to the extent of 66 per cent, 58 per cent and 42 per cent in terms of PHCs. Late discovery of ailments, lack of experience in healthcare providers in rural areas and huge amount of time being spent in reaching urban health facilities make rural populace more vulnerable than their urban counterparts. As such there is an urgent need for speeding up the process of building up healthcare infrastructure capacities especially in the rural areas.