How Telemedicine Centres Helped Reach New Patients In Rural India
A study finds that telemedicine centres increased the rate of patient visits, especially among those with basic healthcare needs.
July 10, 2025
Sarang Deo
Professor of Operations Management. He also serves as the Deputy Dean for Faculty and Research and as the Executive Director of the Max Institute of Healthcare Management (MIHM). His research focuses on healthcare delivery systems, with a particular interest in how operational decisions influence population-level health outcomes.
Video Summary
In this episode of The Big Picture, Professor Sarang Deo discusses his research on the impact of telemedicine centres in rural India, based on one of the world’s largest tele-ophthalmology networks run by the Aravind Eye Care System. The study finds that introducing telemedicine centres increases patient visits, mainly from new patients, reduces travel distance and indirect costs, improves access to care for those with simpler healthcare needs, and raises awareness of hospital services through a marketing effect.
Authored by ISB Editorial