1Department of Master of Computer Applications, Siddaganga Institute of Technology, Tumakuru, Karnataka, India
2Board of Science and Technology, School of Technology and Business Studies, Dalrana University, Borlange, Sweden
(*Corrrresponding author) email id: jayaram_mca@sit.ac.in,
In the recent years, health care is moving out of hospital and closer to the home. It is also shifting from cure to prevention and monitoring. Digital technologies aided by smart mobile phones, fast Internet and social networks are bringing these drifts. Social media, in particular, is filling the gaps in the delivery of affordable health care to the last mile. However, there are sporadic misuses and censures reported by stakeholders. Therefore, an ecosystem that encourages a systematic development of social network supporting health care is an imminent need. This paper presents a detailed exploration of social networks_that hold immense potential for health care as they can reach stakeholders in no time and they can aggregate information and leverage collaboration among people at large. We also brought to the fore, the flip sides. It is anticipated that this paper facilitates a better understanding of significant benefits and challenges for health-care actors, patients, professionals and policy makers.
Blogs, Cynosures, Censures, Disease surveillance, Frontiers of healthcare, Health care, Social media, Online patients
