Telemedicine has transformed healthcare access in India, but access alone does not guarantee equity.
A thoughtful piece by Shipra Agarwal in The Hindu highlights an important reality: many rural women still face barriers to digital healthcare due to limited device ownership, low digital literacy, lack of privacy, and dependence on shared phones within households. The article argues that telemedicine must be designed around equity, autonomy, and real accessibility not just consultation numbers.
At a time when India’s digital health ecosystem is expanding rapidly through platforms like eSanjeevani, this conversation is essential for policymakers, public health practitioners, and researchers alike.
A strong reminder that technology can only reduce health disparities when social and gender inequalities are addressed alongside infrastructure.
If telemedicine’s gains are to be truly equitable, the focus needs to be on rural women – The Hindu
