Telemedicine: Key Notes & Top 25 MCQs for UPSC Exams
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How Mr. Rajesh and Mrs. Sunita Found Comfort in Telemedicine
Mr. Rajesh Sharma and his wife, Mrs. Sunita Sharma, live in a small neighborhood in Delhi state. Both are in their late 70s and have no children nearby to take care of them. Over the past few years, their health has slowly declined, and visiting hospitals has become a major challenge due to mobility issues and the crowded medical system in the city.
One day, while struggling with a persistent cough and high blood pressure (hypertension), Mrs. Sunita’s neighbor suggested they try a telemedicine services app. Skeptical at first, Rajesh downloaded a popular telemedicine app on his smartphone. Within minutes, they were able to connect with Dr. Anjali Verma, a friendly and experienced doctor, through a video call.
Dr. Anjali carefully listened to their symptoms, asked for digital reports, and advised some routine tests that they could perform at home using simple devices. She also prescribed medications digitally and explained how to monitor their condition regularly.
This modern solution became a blessing for the Sharmas.
What is Telemedicine?
Everyone may need medical advice at any time, but going to the hospital is difficult. Telemedicine means providing health services remotely through a doctor who is directly connected from home, and helps to get medical services easily and quickly.
Through telemedicine, you can consult a doctor using special devices such as smartphones or computers, which allow you to explain your health condition through video calls, audio calls, or messaging.
You can send digital reports, photos, and receive a doctor's advice remotely, which makes it especially useful for primary health care without visiting a hospital.
It overcomes geographical limitations by providing medical services even in small rural areas, where access to doctors and hospitals is otherwise very limited.
This service is particularly useful for getting timely advice during emergencies, without requiring a prior appointment with a doctor, and is sometimes available as a free service.
Patients can get appropriate treatment and basic health decisions from trusted doctors without needing to meet in person, making it convenient for people of all age groups.
Telemedicine technology is carefully designed to maintain privacy, reduce the time and cost involved in traditional healthcare, and enable doctors to serve multiple patients at once.
The system follows strict government regulations to ensure safe and efficient use, helps in better sharing of health information, and increases patient self-control and transparency in the medical sector.
How does Telemedicine work?
The patient first creates an account on a telemedicine app, uploads detailed information about their health problems using text, photos, and videos, and waits for the doctor’s response.
The doctor confirms the appointment and conducts a video call to carefully observe the patient’s health problem, prescribe basic tests, and provide a digital prescription if necessary.
Based on the digital prescription, the patient can buy medicines, track their health conditions using remote monitoring devices, and maintain better record management efficiently from home.
Even without prior appointments, urgent advice can be obtained, and the doctor provides reviews and guidance through video call, chat, or message while ensuring patient privacy and data security.
Telemedicine platforms are designed to be easy to use, available in multiple languages, accessible anywhere there is an internet connection, and to reduce both time and travel costs between the patient and the doctor.
This system allows doctors to attend to multiple patients simultaneously, proving extremely beneficial, particularly during emergencies like the Corona period, and improves access to healthcare in small rural areas.
What are the benefits of using Telemedicine?
Every day we are faced with a lot of health problems. Telemedicine makes those problems easier and provides health services easily to everyone.
Telemedicine saves time and reduces costs by providing patients with access to medical services directly from their home without travel.
It ensures easy access to healthcare in rural areas while providing emergency advice for patients in geographically remote or underserved locations.
Patients can get basic health tests done at home and use remote health monitoring devices for consistent tracking of their conditions.
Telemedicine reduces environmental pollution caused by travel and facilitates easy connectivity for follow-up consultations with doctors across different locations.
It is particularly useful during pandemics like COVID, providing healthcare services safely to all age groups while safeguarding patient privacy.
Doctors can provide services to multiple patients simultaneously, easily share health information, and maintain digital records for better health management.
The platform enables easier decision-making for patients, ensures reliable doctor selection, and provides comprehensive services to the elderly, underprivileged, and multilingual users.
What are the challenges faced in using Telemedicine?
This technology that has become available has some limitations. We need to consider some challenges while using telemedicine, especially issues like regulations, data privacy, and technical awareness.- A lack of proper internet connection and limited access to a computer or smartphone make it difficult for many patients to use telemedicine efficiently.
- Some people have less understanding of digital habits, which, combined with poor video call quality, reduces the effectiveness of remote consultations.
Inability to conduct in-person tests and stringent prescription regulations sometimes limit the scope of medical care that can be provided online.
There is a significant risk of data privacy breaches, compounded by the difficulty in keeping patient details secure on digital platforms.
Telemedicine platforms may face service interruptions due to technical glitches, and they require continuous maintenance to ensure smooth functioning.
Misleading online advice and differences in government and private policies for telemedicine services can create confusion and reduce patient trust.
Limited expertise of telemedicine doctors, lack of proper follow-up mechanisms, and problems in clinical risk management can affect the quality of remote healthcare services.
| Disease | Telemedicine Benefit |
|---|---|
| Diabetes | Remote monitoring of blood sugar |
| Hypertension | Track blood pressure at home |
| Respiratory Illness | Consult doctors via video call |
| Skin Disorders | Send images for expert advice |
| Mental Health | Therapy sessions remotely |
| Cardiac Problems | Monitor heart rate remotely |
| Arthritis | Exercise guidance via video |
| Gastrointestinal Issues | Diet and symptom consultation |
| Eye Problems | Remote vision checks and advice |
| Pregnancy Care | Routine checkups via teleconsultation |
How will Telemedicine change in the future?
In the future, telemedicine will continue to develop and become more accessible with new developments in technology and better services. To make your healthcare easier, it will adopt modern technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data, and virtual reality.
More intelligent diagnostic systems and AI-based prescription instructions will be developed to provide accurate and personalized medical guidance directly to patients at home.
Automated health monitoring devices and Smart Wearable Textiles will be widely used to track patient health in real-time without visiting hospitals.
Blockchain-based health record management will ensure secure, tamper-proof storage of patient data while improving accessibility across different medical platforms.
Remote surgeries and Virtual Reality-assisted treatments will enable doctors to perform complex procedures and provide immersive patient treatment experiences without physical presence.
Virtual health assistants and predictive health analytics will help in early detection of health problems and provide daily medical guidance to patients.
Telemedicine applications will become easier to use with improved interfaces, multilingual support, and some even functioning without an internet connection.
Digital therapeutics and health data analytics will provide evidence-based treatment options and better health advice, enhancing patient outcomes.
Remote patient monitoring will become a standard practice, while cloud-based data storage and telehealth initiatives will expand exponentially, increasing accessibility and efficiency of medical services.
Top 25 MCQS on Telemedicine for UPSC Exams
Practice the Top 25 MCQs on Telemedicine to strengthen understanding of digital healthcare technologies, assess exam readiness, and enhance performance in UPSC prelims and other competitive examinations.
1. What is the definition of "Telemedicine"?
a) Medicine sold on television
b) The delivery of healthcare services from a distance using telecommunications technology
c) Robot doctors
d) Medicine for telephone operators
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Answer: b) The delivery of healthcare services from a distance using telecommunications technology
It allows doctors to consult, diagnose, and treat patients remotely using video calls, phone calls, or messaging apps.
2. "Store-and-Forward" telemedicine is also known as:
a) Synchronous Telemedicine
b) Asynchronous Telemedicine
c) Robotic Surgery
d) Real-time Telemedicine
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Answer: b) Asynchronous Telemedicine
Medical data (like X-rays or skin photos) is captured and stored, then sent to a specialist who reviews it later, not in real-time.
3. What is "eSanjeevani"?
a) A new COVID-19 vaccine
b) India's National Telemedicine Service developed by C-DAC
c) A herbal medicine shop
d) An ambulance service
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Answer: b) India's National Telemedicine Service developed by C-DAC
It is a government initiative providing free online doctor consultations to citizens, bridging the rural-urban digital health divide.
4. "Remote Patient Monitoring" (RPM) uses digital technologies to:
a) Spy on patients
b) Collect medical data (like BP/sugar) from patients in one location and transmit it to providers in another
c) Perform surgery
d) Deliver medicines
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Answer: b) Collect medical data (like BP/sugar) from patients in one location and transmit it to providers in another
RPM allows doctors to track a patient's health data continuously from their home, reducing the need for hospital readmissions.
5. The "Hub and Spoke" model in telemedicine refers to:
a) A bicycle wheel
b) Linking a main expert center (Hub) with remote clinics (Spokes)
c) Delivery trucks
d) Internet cables
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Answer: b) Linking a main expert center (Hub) with remote clinics (Spokes)
Specialist doctors sit at the 'Hub' (city hospital) and provide consultations to patients at 'Spokes' (rural health centers) via video.
6. What is "Teleradiology"?
a) Listening to radio doctors
b) Transmitting radiological images (X-rays, CTs) to another location for interpretation
c) Repairing radios
d) Radiation therapy
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Answer: b) Transmitting radiological images (X-rays, CTs) to another location for interpretation
This allows a small clinic to have X-rays read by an expert radiologist sitting in a different city or country.
7. Which major challenge does telemedicine primarily address in India?
a) High cost of petrol
b) Unequal distribution of doctors between urban and rural areas
c) Lack of medicines
d) Language barriers
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Answer: b) Unequal distribution of doctors between urban and rural areas
Most specialists live in cities, while the majority of the population lives in villages. Telemedicine bridges this geographical gap.
8. What does "EHR" stand for?
a) Emergency Health Room
b) Electronic Health Record
c) Electric Heart Rate
d) Easy Hospital Register
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Answer: b) Electronic Health Record
An EHR is a digital version of a patient's paper chart, instantly available to authorized users, crucial for effective telemedicine.
9. "mHealth" refers to the use of:
a) Mental health clinics
b) Mobile devices (phones, tablets) for medical practice
c) Manual health checks
d) Military hospitals
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Answer: b) Mobile devices (phones, tablets) for medical practice
It includes health apps, SMS alerts for vaccination, and wearable trackers that help in public health and patient care.
10. Which technology makes "Telesurgery" (operating on a patient remotely) possible?
a) 5G and Robotics
b) Bluetooth
c) Radio waves
d) Email
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Answer: a) 5G and Robotics
Low-latency 5G networks and precision robotic arms allow a surgeon to control instruments on a patient thousands of miles away.
11. What is the main limitation of a Telemedicine consultation?
a) It saves time
b) Inability to perform a physical examination (touch/palpation)
c) It is too cheap
d) It is available 24/7
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Answer: b) Inability to perform a physical examination (touch/palpation)
Doctors cannot feel a lump or listen to lungs directly, relying on visual cues or patient descriptions, which may limit diagnosis.
12. "IoMT" stands for:
a) Internet of Medical Things
b) Indian Organization of Medical Tech
c) Institute of Medicine and Technology
d) Internal Organ Monitoring Tool
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Answer: a) Internet of Medical Things
It creates a connected infrastructure of medical devices, software applications, and health systems and services.
13. The "Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission" (ABDM) aims to create:
a) New hospitals
b) A unique 14-digit Health ID (ABHA) for every citizen
c) Free medicine shops
d) Medical colleges
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Answer: b) A unique 14-digit Health ID (ABHA) for every citizen
ABHA (Ayushman Bharat Health Account) allows citizens to access and share their digital health records with consent.
14. "Tele-ICU" enables:
a) Patients to sleep in ICU
b) Critical care specialists to monitor ICU patients remotely
c) ICU robots
d) Virtual reality games
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Answer: b) Critical care specialists to monitor ICU patients remotely
Using cameras and data feeds, an Intensivist in a central command center can monitor patients in multiple remote ICUs simultaneously.
15. What legal guideline governs Telemedicine in India?
a) IT Act 2000 only
b) Telemedicine Practice Guidelines 2020
c) Consumer Protection Act
d) There are no laws
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Answer: b) Telemedicine Practice Guidelines 2020
Issued by the Ministry of Health and Board of Governors (MCI), these guidelines legalized and standardized tele-consultations in India.
16. "HIPAA" compliance is often mentioned in telemedicine software. What does it ensure?
a) High speed internet
b) Data Privacy and Security of patient information
c) Free calls
d) Video clarity
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Answer: b) Data Privacy and Security of patient information
Though a US law, HIPAA set the global standard for protecting sensitive patient data during digital transmission.
17. Which branch of medicine has seen the highest adoption of telemedicine?
a) Surgery
b) Psychiatry / Mental Health
c) Dentistry
d) Orthopedics
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Answer: b) Psychiatry / Mental Health
"Tele-psychiatry" is very effective because diagnosis and therapy rely mostly on conversation rather than physical examination.
18. "Real-time Interactive" mode in telemedicine usually involves:
a) Sending an email
b) Video Conferencing
c) Sending a fax
d) Recording a voicemail
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Answer: b) Video Conferencing
This mode mimics a face-to-face visit, allowing the doctor and patient to communicate instantly via audio and video.
19. What is a "Digital Therapeutic"?
a) A robot massage
b) Software/Apps used to treat a medical condition
c) Online pharmacy
d) Herbal tea
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Answer: b) Software/Apps used to treat a medical condition
These are evidence-based therapeutic interventions driven by high-quality software programs to prevent, manage, or treat disorders.
20. "Wearable Technology" like smartwatches contributes to telemedicine by:
a) Showing the time
b) Tracking vitals like heart rate and transmitting them to doctors
c) Playing music
d) Making calls
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Answer: b) Tracking vitals like heart rate and transmitting them to doctors
They provide continuous data on heart rate, sleep, and activity, helping doctors monitor chronic conditions remotely.
21. Under Indian guidelines, can doctors prescribe medicines via tele-consultation?
a) No, never
b) Yes, but only specific categories of medicines (List O, A, B)
c) Yes, all medicines including narcotics
d) Only vitamins
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Answer: b) Yes, but only specific categories of medicines (List O, A, B)
Prescribing Schedule X drugs (narcotics/psychotropic substances) is strictly prohibited via telemedicine to prevent abuse.
22. "Teledermatology" relies heavily on which mode of telemedicine?
a) Audio calls
b) Store-and-Forward (High-resolution photos)
c) Chatbots
d) Robotics
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Answer: b) Store-and-Forward (High-resolution photos)
Skin conditions are visual; sending a high-quality photo allows the dermatologist to diagnose effectively without a live video call.
23. Which term describes the gap in access to technology between rural and urban populations?
a) Digital Divide
b) Tech Gap
c) Net Zero
d) Bandwidth Barrier
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Answer: a) Digital Divide
The lack of smartphones and high-speed internet in rural areas is a major hurdle for the widespread adoption of telemedicine.
24. "Haptic Feedback" in remote surgery allows the surgeon to:
a) See the patient
b) Feel the sensation of touch/resistance via the robotic controls
c) Hear the heartbeat
d) Talk to the nurse
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Answer: b) Feel the sensation of touch/resistance via the robotic controls
It simulates the sense of touch, helping the surgeon gauge how much pressure they are applying to the tissues remotely.
25. How does "AI" assist in Teleradiology?
a) By taking the X-ray
b) By prioritizing critical scans (like brain bleeds) for the doctor to review first
c) By repairing the machine
d) By billing the patient
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Answer: b) By prioritizing critical scans (like brain bleeds) for the doctor to review first
AI algorithms screen images for abnormalities and flag urgent cases, helping radiologists manage their workload efficiently.
Watch a Short Video on Telemedicine
Conclusion
Telemedicine plays a key role in facilitating your healthcare. It not only reduces the time spent in daily life, but also fills the gap in medical services in rural areas. Based on technology, it allows you to get advice from a trusted doctor wherever you are, whenever you want. As this system develops further in the future, personal health management will become easier. You too can use this technology to solve your health problems in a quality way and live a healthier life.
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| Online Courses |
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