Wearable Technology in Healthcare: Will It Take Root in India? Guest Blogger Dr. Neelesh Bhandari

With the advent of Google Glasses and self-quantifying apps (mobile apps that monitor vital signs or other information about the user), wearable technology will soon be a big thing in healthcare.

The movement for self-quantifying patients is not too old. Many experts believe that self-quantifying patients are the logical next step in the evolution of person-centered healthcare. Physicians have found wearable technology useful for patients, especially in management of chronic diseases like obesity, diabetes, heart disease, blood diseases, arthritis etc. With 7 of 10 patients seen in the US by physicians already quantifying themselves using apps and wearable tech, the wearable technology in the healthcare market is only destined to grow bigger, at least initially in the Indian metros. Indian cosmopolitans are just the type to take to this trend sooner (3 to 5 years) rather than later. The unmet demand in India’s self-quantification market is presently catered to by a few start-ups like Diabeto (a mobile device), and we are ready to see more such initiatives soon.

Take a look at some of the affordable wearable technology already present in the markets, ranging from bionic lenses that display information, pedometers in shoes, watches as oxymeters, trauma-resistant inner-wear and bras with sensors to monitor your heart, and more in this article.

Please share your thoughts or experiences with wearable technology in the comments section below...

Dr. Bhandari is a physician entrepreneur focused on communication technology in medicine and healthcare. He is based in the New Delhi area of India and serves as Chief Consulting Officer of Digital MedCom Solutions. Dr. Bhandari also runs the blog Digital Medicine, which is focused on “Ensuring optimum use of technology in medicine.”