In the year 1955, the American SciFi writer and Professor of Biochemistry at Boston University, Isaac Asimov, wrote a short story titled, ‘The Feeling of Power’.
A scene in the short story refers to a system using which medical images can be transmitted to distant places electronically for diagnosis. In less than 70 years, teleradiology has already become an established practice in healthcare worldwide.
Teleradiology, the practice of remotely interpreting medical images using technology, is gaining momentum in India due to the increasing demand for radiological services and the shortage of qualified radiologists in rural areas.
The COVID-19 pandemic has also accelerated the adoption of teleradiology services as healthcare providers looked for ways to manage patients remotely, thus, reducing the risk of exposure.
According to Dr Nikhil Mathur, Group Chief of Medical Services at CARE Hospitals Group, teleradiology has been used in India for many years to transmit ECGs and interpret images like X-rays and scans. The technology has also been used in real-time video and audio consultations and for tele-ICU collaborations between multispecialty and remote hospitals.
The main idea behind teleradiology is to manage operational expenses, especially for small or medium-sized healthcare facilities that cannot afford a radiologist available 24×7.
Through teleradiology, images are sent to a radiologist in a different location when images are taken, allowing for timely and accurate diagnoses. Emergency medical officers also use teleradiology services to collaborate and consult with radiologists in other places, reducing patient suffering and enhancing service delivery efficiency.
Market trends
According to industry observers, teleradiology is poised for significant growth in India. A report by IMARC Group projects that the India teleradiology market will expand at a CAGR of 18.6 percent from 2022-2027. The same report suggests that the worldwide teleradiology market will increase by 12.1 percent CAGR from 2022-2031, with Asia Pacific leading the charge at a growth rate of 13.8 percent during 2022-2031.
A report by Market Research Future also estimates the market size of teleradiology in India to grow at a CAGR of 14.5 percent from 2021-2027. Meanwhile, Mordor Intelligence projects a growth rate of 18.6 percent CAGR from 2021-2026, with the teleradiology market reaching US$ 573.1 million by 2026.
Amit Gandhi, Chief Business Officer of Deeptek, cites the increasing trend of outsourcing radiology reporting to India, where the country’s vast pool of qualified radiologists and cost-effectiveness make it an attractive destination for hospitals in the USA, UK, and Singapore. He predicts that the India teleradiology market will grow at a CAGR of 25 percent from 2022-2027.
Demand drivers
Demand for teleradiology services in India is on the rise due to several factors, including the shortage of healthcare professionals, the growing prevalence of chronic illnesses, and the need for more specialized expertise in some areas of radiology.
According to Dr Nikhil Mathur of CARE Hospitals Group, the shortage of healthcare professionals—particularly in the sub-specialist segments, such as pediatric, neurology, and musculoskeletal radiology—is leading to the adoption of teleradiology services. He cites the growing number of advanced imaging solutions and the increasing adoption of teleradiology for early diagnosis as the growth-drivers.
Dr Nikhil Mathur points out the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in teleradiology as a key factor. The rise in the prevalence of chronic illnesses is driving demand for facilities that provide urgent care, such as teleradiology, mentions Ayanabh DebGupta, Co-founder & Jt Managing Director at Medica Group of Hospitals. He notes that the integration of AI technologies in healthcare is helping to address the shortage of radiologists, as it can assist in interpreting medical images and provide an accurate diagnosis.
The increasing geriatric population and lifestyle changes have increased healthcare awareness, affordability, accessibility, and demand. This has increased the demand for radiology, with a significant gap between demand and supply.
Teleradiology is a cost-effective solution to these concerns, enabling the vast majority of the rural population to access advanced imaging procedures quickly while providing clinicians and patients with expert second opinions from highly trained radiologists worldwide in complicated disease scenarios.
Amit Gandhi of Deeptek adds that as medical imaging technology continues to advance, the number of advanced imaging procedures being performed is also increasing, driving the demand for more advanced teleradiology solutions. He also notes that the adoption of AI in teleradiology is set to revolutionize the field of medical imaging, improving accuracy and speeding up the diagnosis process, allowing radiologists to focus on more complex cases that require their expertise.
Key trends
Teleradiology has become an integral part of the Indian healthcare system, and technological advancements are pushing the boundaries of its reach. According to industry leaders, digitalization has been one of the significant advancements in radiology, allowing healthcare organizations to go paperless and offer accurate diagnosis and timely treatment.
The integration of cloud computing, additive manufacturing, and artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly expanding the reach of teleradiology to the remotest corners of India. Medica’s Ayanabh DebGupta emphasizes that the Picture Archive and Communication System (PACS) and Radiology Information System (RIS) have been invaluable tools in radiology, allowing staff to remotely view images, archive them, submit relevant reports, and send them to other physicians for further interpretation.
According to Manish Gupta, Head – Aster Medical Imaging for India & GCC, Aster Digital Health, Aster DM Healthcare, high-speed internet connectivity, and the integration of AI in diagnostic services have contributed significantly to the growth of teleradiology services in India.
Additionally, the introduction of 5G networks has increased the rapid penetration of these services, while international and national institutional guidelines are evolving to meet the increased demand for remote radiology services and medical tourism.
Deeptek’s Amit highlights that the teleradiology industry in India has emerged as a global leader, adding that adopting AI and subspecialty expertise have resulted in accurate diagnoses and better patient outcomes. These technological innovations are needed to bridge the accessibility and availability gap and provide every patient with quality medical imaging reports and care.
Technological advancements
CARE Hospitals Group’s Dr Nikhil believes that the integration of cloud and artificial intelligence will be the hallmark of the immediate future of teleradiology. Integrating cloud-based PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication System) provides AI-based decision-making tools, enhances speed, reduces errors, increases image resolutions, and improves precision.
Cloud architecture allows healthcare firms to store photos in virtual data centers, freeing up valuable server space and making images easily accessible from many locations. Radiology images, reports, and data can be uploaded, accessed, and stored from virtual centers, providing many benefits, such as reduced infrastructure costs and easy access for authorized radiologists anywhere and everywhere. Implementing AI in teleradiology can prioritize cases, save lives, and enable radiologists to utilize their skills efficiently.
According to Manish Gupta of Aster DM Healthcare, integrating artificial intelligence in radiology is one of the most significant advancements in recent times. It has paved the path for precise and timely diagnosis, positively impacting patient care. Intelligent work systems and advanced processing systems have also helped radiologists to perform a higher number of tasks as compared to earlier times.
Costs involved
TeleRadiology implementation costs in the healthcare industry can vary depending on various factors.
Ayanabh DebGupta, Co-founder & Jt Managing Director of Medica Group of Hospitals, explains that the cost of setting up a teleradiology unit depends on the level of infrastructure required, including remote access software, PACS, and RIS. The cost could range from Rs four to five lakh / EICU bed for a private tertiary care hospital, with server cost of around Rs four lakh, PACS costing Rs nine to 10 lakh, and annual maintenance of Rs two lakh.
Manish Gupta, Head of Aster Medical Imaging – India & GCC, Aster Digital Health, Aster DM Healthcare, adds that the cost of acquiring and maintaining teleradiology technology in India can vary based on equipment quality, support, and maintenance levels. To set up a teleradiology business, operational models such as SAAS, licensing, and CapEx can add up to eight to 20 percent of the reporting cost.
Future of teleradiology
Aster DM Healthcare’s Manish Gupta notes that the teleradiology category faces several challenges, including data privacy and security concerns and the need to standardize protocols and guidelines. However, he believes that the growth potential of teleradiology in India is immense due to the vast population and increasing demand for better healthcare services.
Medica’s Ayanabh DebGupta states that while the teleradiology sector has been slow to take off in India due to logistical obstacles, it has the potential to be a highly viable business model. His organization plans to set up 100 telemedicine units across the east of India to take healthcare to the doorsteps of citizens.
Deeptek’s Amit Gandhi sees the teleradiology market growing significantly globally. The Asia Pacific region is expected to witness the fastest growth due to a sizeable unmet healthcare need and expanding healthcare infrastructure. He, however, warns that AI requires responsible handling in healthcare, particularly in ensuring that AI systems are free from bias and discrimination.
Dr Nikhil Mathur predicts that teleradiology will prove particularly useful in India, where access to healthcare in remote villages is a challenge. He believes that teleradiology can reduce health spending for low-income groups who cannot afford the cost of travel to access medical care. Thus, teleradiology will be critical in helping India achieve her universal health coverage goal and reach the proverbial last man in the queue.
