Role of Technology in Health Care Services

Driving laboratory diagnostics efficiency while optimizing use of resources

1. Context
Healthcare industry in India has seen rapid transformation over the years and it has
been stirred by a number of factors. It has now reached a place from where it can grow
exponentially, given the right resources, both financially and otherwise. Amidst this
upward spiral, one particular domain that has managed to emerge as a prominent
game changer in this space is diagnostics.

Diagnostics: In a market characterised by limited regulations and lack of governing

laws to check the quality of services, the private players have taken upon themselves
to introduce standardisation in their practices and follow protocols set by
international medical bodies to ensure consistent and world-class service. The
current diagnostic market is split between imaging and pathology with 30 percent
and 70 percent shares respectively. Costs of drugs and diagnostics constitute about
70% of health expenditure in India. The proposed 'national strategy for providing
essential diagnostics facilities free for all' is meant for anyone visiting a public health
facility from a village health post to a district hospital. Even though the
government is spending enormously to offer free healthcare services at government
facilities, the services reaching the end consumer are not up to the mark, primarily
due to the lack of technology assistance. Considering such state of affairs, the public
trust for the Government offered health services is fast eroding.

Role of technology in diagnostics: Lab automation allows the diagnostic centres to

improve workflows, optimize human and technology resources, and reduce costs.
Furthermore, it helps establish these centres as hubs, providing fast, accurate testing
that support good clinical outcomes.

2. Problem Statement
A significant portion of the state budgets is allocated towards public health care
services. As part of these services, free diagnostics form an integral part of the service
ecosystem. Over the time, many mechanisms are implemented in order to optimize
the usage of the state budgets. However, it is evident that, technology intervention
and automated processes are required to streamline the services and optimize
resources. The key focus is to improve both the clinical and operational efficiencies.

The envisaged solution should deliver extensive automation, customization, and

traceability, while eliminating the need for third-party informatics software.
Technology automation is expected to gain greater laboratory efficiencies connecting
analytical systems across all four core laboratory disciplines: clinical chemistry,
immunoassay, haematology, and haemostasis. The core idea is to make the laboratory
division able to consolidate instruments, integrate and automate testing, reallocate
staff to higher-value responsibilities, and save extra costs - all while increasing
clinicians trust in the laboratory to support excellence in patient care.
A premier agency in India which provides training, consultancy, applied research
services and extends advocacy in the area of environment protection to industries,
regulatory bodies, Government Organizations and NGOs and works towards
bringing about change for a more balanced development, plans to implement
laboratory services automation solution across the labs.

3. Problem highlights
Some of the major issues faced by the agency are:
Tracing of reports
Too much of manual documentation
Accountability of work
Determining status of work
Creating auditable reports
Inventory alerts
Manual recording of laboratory reports

Envisaged role of Technology:

SOA (service oriented Architecture) for interoperability

Inventory Management
Digital Signature/Authorization
Workflow Management
Document Encryption for security

Desired outcomes:

Laboratory services automation

Device interfaces using serial and parallel ports
Web application to enable sample testing online
Handling of samples
Help manage inventory better than manual process
Track chemicals used by different test processes
Device calibration reports
Alerts and escalations of various events such as long pending tasks at certain
level, inventory of chemicals