‘Remote healthcare and telemedicine are a boon for India’

Delhi-based Vaibhav Walia completed his graduation in B. Pharmacy from Apeejay Stya University (ASU), Gurugram. Passionate about learning and exploring new things related to healthcare, he then went on to pursue PGDHM in Hospital and Healthcare Management from International Institute of Health Management Research (IIHMR). The 24-year-old started his professional journey as a Social Initiative Fellow with BYJU’S and worked on collaborated projects of NITI Aayog. Currently, he is working with Napier Healthcare as a Business Analyst. “Here, my job responsibility is to work on HIS platform, a system that keeps the medical record of all patients,” he says. In addition to enjoying his professional life, Vaibhav loves listening to music, gyming, travelling and meeting new people. In this interview, the Apeejay alumnus highlights his interest in the healthcare sector and more. Read edited excerpts: 

What fascinates you about the healthcare sector?

The healthcare sector is a booming one. Along with that, it also has a lot of opportunities and is subdivided in other fields like public health, hospital and healthcare, and information technology. I am always keen to learn and  explore all these aspects that come under healthcare. I had completed my class 12 with a non-medical stream but I was always interested in organic chemistry, and in pharmacy it’s the most important part and thus, I wanted to explore and learn more about it.

The concept of remote healthcare and telemedicine has gained further popularity post Covid. Do you think such innovations are here to stay? Why?

The concept of remote healthcare and telemedicine have come as a boon in the healthcare sector. As we know every patient is not in the condition to visit a hospital or clinic. However, these emerging trends are providing an accessibility to many to consult a doctor at any time,  from anywhere. It saves a lot of time. Now, the Electronic Medical Records platform has been established which helps in interoperability of the data to transfer from one hospital to another.  We don’t need to wait in a line anymore. We can now schedule an appointment with a doctor via an app, and all of these are helping hospital executives manage patients and cases smoothly.

What are the important skills an aspirant must possess to be a part of the healthcare sector?

Basic knowledge of a hospital’s system or design like OPD (Out-Patient Department), IPD (Inpatient Department) Laboratory Information System, Electronic Media Record, Electronic Health Record, health programs, TPA and a little bit of medical knowledge should be there to grow one’s career in the healthcare sector.

Is the sector booming with lucrative job opportunities? How should freshers prepare to join this field? 

Yes, this sector is booming and has a lot of opportunities. Freshers just need to have basic knowledge of hospitals and would be appreciated if any master degree in MHA (Master of Healthcare Administration) or MBA in Healthcare Management is completed.

What was your journey at ASU like? Any learning that is helping you in your professional life?

Journey with Apeejay was amazing. The university gave me a platform to learn different medical terms, know about various kinds of drugs. I also got an internship opportunity with a pharmaceutical company and I worked in their Quality Control Department. I learned to test the medication over there. And also got knowledge related to pharmacology, pharmacovigilance and quality management.

Where do you see yourself in the next few years?

Currently, I am happy with the job role and responsibilities that are given to me in this organisation. So in the coming five years, I see myself working as a Senior Analyst in the healthcare domain.