DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES IN HEALTHCARE: “In Response to the

Pandemic”

GROUP 10
24P004 Abhishek Mishra
24P019 Bhavya Khanna
24P025 Dhruv Rahul Jhaveri
24P038 Mukul Acharya
24P059 Utkarsh Ashish
24FPMR170 Kartik Tandon

PGDM

Management Development Institute, Gurgaon

RESEARCH METHODS IN BUSINESS

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Introduction
The COVID-19 pandemic has posed a threat to global health systems, disrupting the balance
and business to an extent that some measures taken were forced and innovative. Technologies
of digital nature surfaced as pertinent to misconception of negative attributes of diagnosis,
treatment, prevention and heath management. These inventions enabled health systems across
nations to respond to the crisis and provided a template for any future health risk. In India,
one of the countries that were the most affected by the pandemic, the use of digital health
applications was key to reducing risks. Mishra et.al (2021), mobile phones, telemedicine and
data based contact tracing systems were part of the intervention mix in containing the virus
and ensuring healthcare during the strained resource periods..
Out of various e-health applications, the Arogya Setu mobile application particularly
impresses how India dealt with the pandemic. In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, the
government of India issued an app that enabled the user to assess themselves, the contacts to
be tracked, and get information about the outbreak continuously. According to Kumar et al.
(2021), Arogya Setu was a clear indication of how a digital solution would enable people,
enhance the interaction between the general population and the health system and improve
the overall health system’s monitoring and evaluation. As Patel and Sinha (2020) put it, such
e-health systems were particularly important in mitigating the difficulties of countrywide
lockdowns, inhibiting movement of people, and overstrained health system.
Other than Arogya Setu, telemedicine gained newfound prominence as the absence of
alternative care options only made it compelling as a solution to gaps encountered in trying to
seek care and maintain care during periods of lockdown. Tele-consultations eliminated the
need for patients to go into waiting rooms away from healthcare providers, especially in
urbanized areas where digital tools were easier to access. But on the other hand, the global
COVID-19 pandemic also exposed how some populations can still suffer discrimination in
receiving digital health tools, with many of them if not all being overcrowded populations
with low internet coverage, poor digital literacy skills or cannot afford it (Bansal & Roy,
2020).
This study examines the relevance of digital health technologies aimed at combating the
COVID-19 pandemic in India, in particular, their effectiveness, aspects of adoption, and end-
users experiences – consumers of the COVID 19 services. The paper attempts to fulfil the
objectives of the research by expanding the focus onto tools such as Arogya Setu and
telemedicine which would in turn serve to bolster the future of digital healthcare in India.
Literature Review
Pandemic events clearly require and support the development of advanced scalable health
care delivery systems. Indeed, the role of artificial intelligence, big data, and mobile
applications in the context of the development and implementation of policies aimed at the
eradication of pandemics proves to be invaluable. As noted by Gupta et al (2021), Such tools
have greatly improved the ability of governments to be able to monitor, track, and respond to
disease outbreaks. For example, big data was used to conduct hotspot mapping, infection
trend prediction, and triangulation of medical supplies and human resources. In India, Reddy
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et al(2020) emphasized on telemedicine platforms as being quickly deployed throughout
public and private care providers so as to allow for uninterrupted care even in the presence of
severe lockdown.
The Arogya Setu app has made a remarkable difference in India’s peripherals in responding
to COVID-19. According to Mehta et al. (2021), it aided in the devolution of contact tracing
since the app possessed Bluetooth and GPS that allowed the authorities to quickly quarantine
people who were at risk of contracting the virus. Moreover, its massive usage most
generously created a room for accurate information dissemination concerning strategies of
containing virus spread and vaccination drives. However, as Mishra et al. (2021) note, there
were concerns that constrained the app’s success and acceptability such as those related to
data privacy, inclusiveness and affordability especially in the rural and poor areas. To the
contrary, they consider that tackling these issues is paramount for the sustainability of
comparable projects in the future.
Increasing use of patient-centric digital tools is key to encouraging mass use and utilization
of such tools. Bansal and Roy (2020) particularly note Comprehensible interface design and
locally relevant content as key to the use of digital health platforms by different populations.
Considering India, such diversity in the background of users is this is virtually a necessity. In
addition, Sharma et al. (2021) enumerate technological sophistication as an obstacle, arguing
that many would-be users do not possess necessary technology skills to interact with
complicated health apps.
During the epidemic, telemedicine became an essential part of healthcare delivery,
overcoming obstacles caused by geographical distance and overburdened medical resources.
Up to 60% of patient-doctor interactions in urban centres during the height of the epidemic
were teleconsultations Verma et al. (2020). In addition to lowering the danger of infection,
this digital transformation made it possible for patients with long-term illnesses to get
ongoing care. However, the scope of telemedicine services was constrained by differences in
digital infrastructure, especially in rural areas. In order to close the digital divide and
guarantee fair access to telemedicine platforms, Reddy and Sharma (2020) emphasize the
necessity of focused expenditures.
The rapid deployment of digital health tools has also raised ethical and privacy concerns.
Mishra and Sinha (2021) critique the lack of comprehensive data protection frameworks in
India, which has led to apprehensions about misuse of sensitive health data. Transparency in
data collection and usage policies, they argue, is essential to build public trust in digital
health initiatives. Additionally, Singh and Sharma (2021) call for the establishment of robust
regulatory mechanisms to safeguard user data and ensure ethical deployment of digital health
technologies.

Objectives
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 1. To analyse the perception and usability of the Arogya Setu app among COVID-19
patients.
2. To evaluate the impact of telemedicine services on healthcare accessibility during the
pandemic.
3. To understand the challenges faced by COVID-19 patients in using digital health
technologies.
Rationale
The title “Digital Technologies in Healthcare: In Response to the Pandemic” underscores the
transformative role of technology during one of the most challenging periods in modern
history. Digital tools, particularly Arogya Setu, emerged as lifelines in ensuring timely
healthcare interventions and managing the pandemic's spread. This research focuses on
understanding these innovations through the lens of end-users, the COVID-19 patients, as
their experiences and feedback are crucial for refining future digital health strategies.
The emphasis on Arogya Setu stems from its widespread adoption, with over 200 million
downloads (Singh & Sharma, 2021). Its functionalities—ranging from contact tracing to real-
time updates—have made it an indispensable tool for both citizens and healthcare providers.
By focusing on Arogya Setu, this study aims to explore its effectiveness, adoption challenges,
and limitations to provide actionable insights for future enhancements in digital health
frameworks.

References
Bansal, S., & Roy, P. (2020). Enhancing digital health adoption: Lessons from COVID-
19. Indian Journal of Public Health, 64(3), 207-213.
Gupta, R., Mehta, A., & Verma, K. (2021). The role of AI and big data in pandemic
response. International Journal of Healthcare Innovations, 9(2), 95-108.
Kumar, S., Singh, V., & Sharma, P. (2021). Arogya Setu: Transforming pandemic
management in India. Health Informatics India, 8(1), 45-56.
Mehta, D., Reddy, A., & Mishra, J. (2021). Evaluating digital health technologies in
pandemic settings. Journal of Digital Health, 10(4), 300-315.
Mishra, A., & Sinha, T. (2021). Privacy concerns in digital health: A case study of Arogya
Setu. Indian Journal of Medical Ethics, 18(1), 56-63.
Patel, R., & Sinha, K. (2020). Digital resilience in healthcare: Insights from COVID-
19. Asian Journal of Medicine and Technology, 5(2), 78-89.
Reddy, N., & Sharma, L. (2020). Telemedicine: Bridging the gap during COVID-19. Journal
of Clinical Practice in India, 12(3), 112-119.

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Sharma, A., & Verma, R. (2021). Addressing digital literacy in healthcare: Challenges and
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