Indian telehealth platforms work to strengthen capability on quality accountability and accreditation

June 20, 2023

Indian telehealth platforms are working to strengthen their capability on quality accountability and accreditation. When digital health witnesses expansion, telehealth accreditation becomes critical, said Dr Alexander Kuruvilla, chief health strategy officer, Practo.

In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, the world woke up to the potential of telehealth. The limited access to healthcare accelerated its adoption as a safe and convenient alternative to conventional in-person consultations, changing the future of healthcare. There was a big boost in the adoption of digital healthcare, he added.

Now after almost 2 years, with everyone experiencing the benefits, we can see the positive impact of digital healthcare. However, to help telemedicine grow and multiply, its impact much like large healthcare institutions and hospitals, adequate accreditation of the quality of its services is imperative. With growing acceptance of telehealth, ensuring standardisation in delivery of quality healthcare and promotion of patient safety in digihealth is extremely critical. To address this, the Quality and Accreditation Institute (QAI) with a specific program dedicated to evaluating and ensuring quality delivery of digital healthcare was established, said Kuruvilla. 

QAI has launched 12 accreditation programs in less than 5 years. Indian healthcare sector, has taken quality of delivery to a newer level. It started from Apollo Hospital, Indraprastha becoming the first JCI accredited hospital in India and 6th in Asia. BM Birla Heart Research Centre, Kolkata became the first NABH-accredited hospital in India. And, now Practo has become the first digital healthcare company to receive a QAI accreditation. These advancements in Indian healthcare brings in confidence about the future of the sector, he stated.


From improving credibility to empowering the healthcare ecosystem, accreditation is impactful. There is a clear demonstration on the assurance of quality services, to make healthcare patient-centric and accountable with better health outcomes and safe patient care. There is adherence to transparency, accountability and ethics. It ensures compliance to the prescribed telemedicine practice guidelines of the applicable Council to become a part of the National Digital Health Ecosystem. It is made certain that patient information is secure and their privacy intact. There is also a mechanism of risk management to safeguard healthcare providers from potential legal liability, he said.

India is the pharmacy of the world and has also the potential to build and showcase its strength in digital healthcare. This can begin with setting up an ecosystem that promotes education, training, quality improvement and accreditation or certification. In-turn, this will ensure patients get access to a gold standard of quality healthcare. Now Indian telehealth is at the cusp of redefining the sector with increased attention to accreditation, said Kuruvilla.

PHARMABIZ.com