In this series of articles on precision medicine , we look at how telehealth solutions can pave the way for more individualised treatment
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OCTOBER , 2023 | THE HEALTH
23
BRAIN BITES
BY DR WAEL MY MOHAMED
When pixels cure more than pills !
In this series of articles on precision medicine , we look at how telehealth solutions can pave the way for more individualised treatment
AS time has progressed and technology has advanced , we have been exposed to a world where telemedicine is the norm .
Telemedicine is the practice of providing medical treatment to patients in remote areas using electronic communication and remote sensing technology . While telemedicine focuses on delivering medical treatment via the internet , telehealth involves providing other health-related services , such as health education and health information .
By streamlining the care process and making it easier for both patients and medical personnel , digital technologies are set to improve diagnosis , monitoring , and treatment soon . Telehealth solutions will pave the way for more individualised treatment across the board , from illness prevention to management .
The options are limitless . Take a 45-year-old breast cancer survivor , Anna as an example in the year 2050 . A precision medicine-compounding chemist has customised her hormone treatment to her unique biological makeup .
She keeps tabs on her health with the help of a wristwatch app that constantly analyses hundreds of digital indicators . She checks her exhaustion level every morning using speech and image analysis on her smart mirror . The doctor and the breast cancer nurse at the hospital may monitor the development of all her AI-based digital biomarkers on a dashboard in real-time .
Any deviation from the norm triggers an alarm that may help get Anna to see her oncologist immediately . So , instead of waiting months for a regular check-up , Anna may use remote digital monitoring to identify a cancer return early and , perhaps , prevent the disease from progressing .
THE UNICORN HEALTH APPROACH
There is a link between everything . This was driven home during the Covid-19 outbreak . Sixty per cent or more of all human infectious illnesses originate in animals .
Animals are the common host of many human pathogens , including Covid-19 , Zika and Ebola viruses , avian flu , and HIV . It is projected that such catastrophic health disasters will often occur as the global population increases , transportation increases , environmental degradation persists and urbanisation develops .
Deforestation , for example , has increased interaction between wild and farmed animals , increasing the risk of transmitting new illnesses to people . In this light , “ One Health ” was conceived to guarantee that everyone shares a global perspective .
It advocates for thinking about
every possible aspect in the genesis of diseases . The difficulty is in motivating research institutions in the fields of human and animal health and environmental research to work together effectively . The World Health Organisation , the World Organisation for Animal Health , and the United Nations ’ Food and Agriculture Organisation all support the idea .
Integrating a One Health strategy is now required for precision health , which seeks to guarantee the greatest possible health for all people regardless of their lifestyle , socioeconomic background or biological traits .
THE COMPLEMENTARY ROLES OF TELEHEALTH AND ONE HEALTH
Some may not recognise the connection between telehealth , the delivery of healthcare through digital technology and the One Health approach , which considers the interdependence of people ’ s health , the health of animals , and the health of the environment . However , they have been shown to work together for the greater good of healthcare .
Firstly , by linking people in far-flung locations with medical professionals , telehealth can potentially increase access to healthcare overall . The One Health philosophy , which supports this broader scope , holds that illnesses may spread to and affect any population .
Secondly , keeping an eye out for the spread of animal illnesses that might infect people is a top priority for the One Health movement . Human and animal populations may be monitored remotely using telehealth capabilities , increasing the likelihood of early epidemics and cross-species transmission detection .
Thirdly , because of its importance to One Health , telehealth may be used to keep tabs on environmental elements that impact public health . By monitoring environmental changes and gauging their effects on health , remote sensors and data collecting techniques are helping to provide a more complete picture of how new diseases originate .
Both telehealth and the newer concept of “ One Health ” promote multidisciplinary teams . By connecting medical doctors , veterinarians , and environmental scientists , telehealth systems pave the way for a more holistic strategy for health management .
Furthermore , telehealth may be utilised to spread information on
Dr Wael MY Mohamed is with the Department of Basic Medical Science , Kulliyyah of Medicine , International Islamic University Malaysia ( IIUM ).
One Health principles , increasing awareness among professionals and the public of the interdependence of health . Telehealth ’ s ability to provide preventative healthcare measures like remote health screenings and consultations aligns with the forwardthinking tenets of the One Health approach to early risk detection and management .
In conclusion , the complex difficulties of our globalised society may be addressed by a combination of telehealth and One Health , rather than alone . Within the context of One Health , the use of telehealth technology allows for better disease monitoring , more accessible access to treatment , and the promotion of a more holistic approach to health that values the health of people , animals , and the environment equally .
In a nutshell , telehealth is the digital stethoscope that helps One Health listen to the heartbeat of a connected world . – The Health