Bandra's 81-year-old The Holy Family Hospital goes digital: Boon or bane?

Bandra's 81-year-old The Holy Family Hospital has recently embraced a paperless approach for dispensing prescriptions. Inadvertently, this laudable move, meant to streamline processes and adapt technological advancements, has posed challenges for certain segments of its patient pool. Patients, especially the elderly and those with little to no digital knowledge, are encountering considerable difficulties in accessing their digital prescriptions - emailed by the hospital.

The hospital's shift towards digital prescriptions signifies a progressive approach aimed at improving efficiency and reducing paper usage. However, the unintended consequence of the initiative highlights the importance of considering the primary needs of Holy Family's diverse clientele.

To counter the situation, offering alternative options such as printed prescriptions to select few or personalised assistance within the hospital premises, could significantly alleviate the challenges. In any case, healthcare services should be able to accommodate diverse patient needs - irrespective of technological proficiency or educational levels.