Practo has released a report titled ‘Understanding COVID-19: Comparing all three waves in India’ that analyses how Indians accessed healthcare during the three covid waves. 

The report findings during all three waves states:

• 70 per cent of all online consultations for COVID-19
• The second wave was the deadliest with a 1500 per cent surge in online consultations at its peak
• 57 per cent of all telemedicine users experienced it for the first time 
• 54 per cent of all online consultations were from millennials and Gen Zs
• There was 50 per cent growth in alternate medicine like Ayurveda and Homeopathy
• Specialities like dental, psychiatry and sexology saw growth in in-person appointments
• Dolo 650mg, Zincovit, Limcee 500mg, Azee 500mg, Pan D capsule were the most ordered medicines
• COVID-19 swab test, complete blood count test, thyroid profile and HBA1c were the most ordered diagnostic tests

The report also states that Bengaluru contributed to 32 per cent of all covid consultations in the third wave. The highest consultations came from Delhi during the second wave contributing 29 per cent of total covid consultations. Hyderabad was the third most consulted city in all three waves. During the first wave, Mumbai contributed to the highest online covid consultations at 8 per cent. Among non-metros, Lucknow had the most online consultations during the first wave, contributing to 4 per cent of all covid consultations. During the third wave, among non-metros Jaipur had the highest consultations contributing to 3 per cent of all covid consultations.

Prof Rajendra Pratap Gupta, Author of the best-seller: ‘Digital Health – Truly Transformational’ and Chairman – Digital Health Academy & Health Parliament, said, “The study reveals that digital health adoption is growing exponentially across urban, rural areas, specialities, and age groups. As work from home (WFH) becomes a reality, Consult from Home (CFH) is also becoming prominent. The hybrid model of care is a reality now.”