India, with its vast population of 1.4 billion people, presents a unique opportunity for healthcare technology solutions. However, creating an app to help users find the right doctor in India comes with its own set of challenges. In this blog post, we will explore some practical obstacles that need to be addressed when developing such an app.
1. Catering to Different Healthcare Practices:
In small towns and rural areas, patients often rely on doctors recommended by their family or friends rather than conducting online research. Additionally, patients in these areas may have more time and are willing to wait for hours at a clinic. To overcome this challenge, it is crucial to target tier 1 cities like Bangalore or Mumbai where people have limited spare time due to long travel distances and are more likely to seek online solutions.
2. Convincing Established Doctors vs. Young Practitioners:
Established doctors who already have a steady stream of patients may not be motivated to join an app that aims to bring them more business. On the other hand, younger doctors who are just starting their practice may struggle to gain trust and credibility among potential patients. Striking a balance between attracting experienced doctors and convincing patients about the capabilities of young practitioners is essential for the success of the app.
3. Monetization Strategies:
One significant challenge lies in finding a sustainable revenue model for the app. Charging patients for scheduling appointments and transferring fees to doctors can result in significant tax implications. Moreover, if patients realize that it is cheaper and more convenient to visit the doctor directly instead of relying on the platform, they may opt out of using the app altogether. Exploring alternative monetization strategies such as partnerships with healthcare providers or offering value-added services can help overcome this hurdle.
4. Resistance from Doctors and Hospital Staff
Doctors are accustomed to receiving free gifts from pharmaceutical companies, and convincing them to adopt a new software solution can be challenging. More so if they save taxes by dealing entirely in cash, like maybe someone treats 50 patients and make records for 20. Additionally, hospital staff may resist using the app as it could mean additional work without any increase in pay. To address this challenge, it is crucial to emphasize the benefits of the app, such as streamlining administrative tasks, improving patient management, and enhancing overall efficiency.
5. Legal concerns on latest tech advances:
While AI technology has the potential to revolutionize many aspects of healthcare, there are certain limitations and legal restrictions when it comes to recommending doctors. Building an AI solution to recommend doctors is a grey area and legally not allowed. The responsibility of recommending doctors lies with the treating physician who takes into account a patient’s detailed medical history, conducts necessary tests, and then prescribes the appropriate course of action. If an AI system were to make a mistake in recommending a doctor and a patient were to avoid visiting the right healthcare professional as a result, there could be serious consequences and potential liability for the person or organization responsible for the AI system.
Another challenge in implementing AI solutions in healthcare is that paid telemedicine is not yet legal in many jurisdictions. Doctors are currently unable to prescribe complete treatment plans online in exchange for money; this must be done through physical visits. This limitation hinders the ability to provide comprehensive virtual healthcare services and limits the scope of AI applications in this field.
6. Focus on a niche:
One of the biggest challenges faced in developing an AI-based platform for connecting patients with doctors is that even if it becomes easy for patients to find the right doctor and schedule appointments, the primary customer remains the doctor. In India, where there is often more supply than demand for medical services, not all doctors prioritize aspects such as efficient appointment scheduling or maintaining a professional online presence. They know that patients will come to them regardless of their efforts in these areas. Therefore, it may be difficult to convince all doctors to adopt such a solution as their primary focus may not be on attracting new patients.
7. Apples versus Oranges:
It is important not to compare an AI-based doctor recommendation platform with food delivery platforms like Zomato or other similar services. Starting a restaurant requires different qualifications and expertise compared to becoming a doctor, which involves years of education and training. The process of becoming a capable practicing physician is rigorous and cannot be easily replicated by anyone without proper medical degrees and experience. The efforts required to gain a doctor’s trust and have their prescriptions accepted by patients are significant, as medical representatives can attest.
Few potential solutions:
In order to address these challenges, several potential solutions can be considered. One option is to create a comprehensive online profile of each doctor, including links to external review websites, allowing patients to make informed decisions based on the experiences of others. Another possibility is offering free physical consultations with doctors who can provide recommendations on which specialist to visit. However, this approach assumes that the platform has secured sufficient venture capital funding. Alternatively, charging patients an additional fee for priority appointments in busy hospitals could be explored. Lastly, targeting a specific niche within tier 1 cities where prior planning and access to specialized care are highly valued may also prove beneficial.
Conclusion:
Developing an app to help users find the right doctor in India is a complex task that requires careful consideration of various practical challenges. By targeting tier 1 cities, balancing the needs of established and young doctors, exploring sustainable monetization strategies, and addressing resistance from healthcare professionals, it is possible to overcome these obstacles and create a successful platform that revolutionizes healthcare access in India.
I welcome your thoughts and suggestions on how to address these challenges in the comments section below.
Yaju Arya Dot Com 