Advanced Diagnostics, Genomic Testing & Mobile Health Revolutionizing Medical Services

Advanced diagnostics, genomic testing, and mobile health technologies are revolutionizing the way healthcare is delivered, especially in rural and underserved regions. These advancements promise to reduce healthcare costs and enhance health management for communities that are challenging to reach.

Dinesh Chauhan, CEO of CORE Diagnostics, highlights that the Indian healthcare sector has now embraced mobile health, genomic testing, and advanced diagnostics to revolutionize its medical services. These innovations hold the potential to significantly enhance healthcare accessibility, with an ambitious goal to achieve Universal Health Coverage by 2025 through the integration of precision diagnostics, genetic testing, and mobile healthcare.

With over 600 million rural Indians owning mobile phones, mobile health (mHealth) is emerging as a highly effective avenue to provide medical services in these areas. mHealth solutions address the logistical and financial limitations of traditional healthcare institutions, bridging gaps in distance and costs.

Initiatives like the National Digital Health Mission (NDHM) focus on digitizing health records nationwide, fostering improved access to data and streamlining mobile health services. Such efforts are expected to ensure mobile health effectively addresses healthcare scarcity in rural sectors by 2025, providing critical services that have been largely unavailable, Chauhan informed Pharmabiz.

The evolution of personalized healthcare is closely linked to advancements in precision diagnostics and genomic testing. These technologies address the escalating burden of non-communicable diseases in rural settings by enabling early disease detection, unveiling genetic predispositions, and facilitating bespoke treatment plans. Core Diagnostics is at the forefront, expanding genomic testing availability across India.

Additionally, integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into genetic analytics is expected to reduce costs, making these technologies more accessible in rural areas. Beyond providing more effective treatments, these tools help identify at-risk groups early, prioritize prevention, and reduce pressure on healthcare systems. If harnessed in the right manner, genomic testing and precision diagnostics could shift the healthcare focus in rural India from reactive treatment to proactive prevention by 2025, Chauhan suggested.

This holistic strategy to merge technology with local healthcare infrastructure includes empowering key individuals in rural areas, such as nurses and Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs). Training these personnel to use AI-based tools and mobile health applications will ensure rural communities fully benefit from these technological leaps, Chauhan noted.

Startups and non-governmental organizations are diligently working to incorporate AI and mHealth into rural healthcare efforts. Initiatives like the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) play a pivotal role in laying the groundwork necessary to expand these technologies nationwide.

By 2025, India’s healthcare landscape is set to undergo a significant transformation. The integration of advanced diagnostics, genomic testing, and mobile health is expected to revolutionize medical care delivery, particularly in rural areas. This transformation relies on collaboration among governments, tech firms, healthcare practitioners, and private entities, Chauhan emphasized.