In the times of COVID, where the whole world comes to a halt and life seems to be moving through online platforms it has changed the way of living and has affected everyone’s life in one or the other way. Today, virtual platforms, roles, and importance have increased manifold as the world is more or less connected through these online platforms. The virtual get-togethers to office meetings to online lectures are all taking place on these portals.
The online platforms have also been very beneficial in delivering essential services like groceries, edibles, medicines without which one cannot imagine living a life. Apart from getting the products, there are many benefits when you order online and buy medical supplies online.
Suppose we talk in detail about health supplies or health care. In that case, it will be seen that the majority of the population is suffering from one of the other diseases. The people from the old age to the younger generation are on medication and require their daily dose to be fit and healthy, and they also invest in their well being.
The sad truth is that the majority of the population suffered from diseases and didn’t have expenses for their treatment and medication to buy medical supplies online.
The rate of malnutrition, stunted growth of children, and women’s condition at times of pregnancy has always remained a concern. In rural areas still, health care is not accessed by all, and the people have less awareness about it, so for inclusive growth and the betterment of all, the government took up various initiatives. And these initiatives are sometimes funded alone by the public expenditure and sometimes joint venture of public and private partnerships.
Health care and various initiatives
Health is one of the important assets one can have, and a healthy mind resides in a healthy body. The focus should be on taking good care of oneself and curing illness. In this pandemic also the primary focus has been given on providing medical supplies to the patient. The virtual consultation with private doctors and providing medical supplies online has proven to be very useful as virtual consultation or can say use of virtual reality in healthcare ease the burden on medical products online. There are many online medical supplies portals which offer online consultation with the doctors and telemedicine and e-pharmacy, which will enable people in rural areas to access quality health care.
These initiatives create a digital health ecosystem that will reduce the existing gap between various stakeholders such as doctors, hospitals, and other healthcare providers by bringing them together and connecting them in integrated digital health infrastructure. Health care is one of the core sectors, as it is a basic necessity and a national responsibility.
The healthcare is in the United Nations sustainable development goals that are SDG3; Ensure healthy lives and promote well being for all at all ages. In order to achieve the target and to ensure well being of all, these online platforms are playing significant roles. One among them is the online delivery of medicines, which has benefited a lot even in pandemic times.
It is through these portals that made medicine accessible even in a lockdown situation. These platforms are convenient for the people who don’t even have time to go and purchase things like office goers, old age people, or anyone who feel like they can order medicines from the comfort of the house. As nowadays, it’s a basic necessity which is needed to be fit.
Benefits of providing online medical supplies
Medicine available at your doorstep
Significant advantages are that medication is available at your doorstep, and one does not have to spend extra pennies in going out to the store and purchasing it. Many such portals are there that work on the same concept to provide the hassle-free medicine delivery. One just has to log in and order the medicine from the portal, and the medicine will be delivered to the customer in a short period.
Saving on the cost
The other benefit of ordering medicine online is that it saves the cost. While purchasing the medicine [branded or generic] from an online platform, the amount got lessened than the local store. The reason is sometimes discount coupons get applied, or if any offer is going on, then also the price gets reduced. Further, the rate is also cheaper as they don’t have to spend much on utility bills and other expenses compared to local drug store dealers.
Precautions required
There are no such concerns associated with ordering medicine online, but one needs to take care of certain things while ordering online. It is to be checked while purchasing whether the dealer is registered or not and should have a license. Once the medicine delivers, its expiry and manufacture date should be checked. Apart from this, a little precaution is needed while doing transactions.
Improves healthcare service efficiency
These online portals and even govt. portals like e-pharmacy have helped improve health care services and increase the quality of care. Like delivering medicine and various other initiatives in the private and public sectors, these services will help transform the health sector.
Online services in rural areas
The access to rural areas is still a challenge as private players are usually operating in metro cities but now even in small towns these services are coming up.
Various public private initiatives have started their ventures in small areas. Apart from these govt initiatives like e-pharmacy, sanjeeveni plays a, major role in rural areas in providing online services
Address healthcare challenges
The digital data health infrastructure dramatically reduces the risk of preventable medical error and significantly improves health services.
Offer cash back
Sometimes, when ordering from an online portal, one gets various coupons and vouchers. It also happens when you order medicine and pay through any digital application; the customer receives cash back on the amount.
Technology plays a crucial role in the fight against COVID
It has contributed to the various ways as the available technologies can be used from one sector to another. It offers multiple opportunities to harness these techniques and methods to get back on life during the lockdown. And among its many uses, if we talk specifically about the health sector than telemedicine, virtual consultation, and online delivery of medicines are few of them, which helped a lot in this pandemic.
Therefore it is advisable to focus on health care and should order medicine and supplies online whenever needed as it has many benefits.