Applications of Internet of things in Non-Communicable Disease Prevention and Management: A Review

The gravity of the burden of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) has been recognised globally. India has introduced the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular disease & Stroke (NPCDCS) to tackle NCDs which accounts for 60% of all deaths. However, there are major constraints in the implementation of the programme which significantly can be overcome by the adoption of the Internet of Things (IoT) in healthcare delivery. The paper aims to looks at IoT as a viable option for remote health monitoring of patients with NCDs, giving room to more effective and timely treatment which leads to better health outcomes.

Content analysis of textual data from multiple sources such as journals, reports and electronic source was applied in the paper.

Given the nature and outcome of studies conducted, benefits of IoT in NCD management is indicated.

In the context of India, the advancement of the digital technologies coupled with the growth of the health care sector raise the scope for enhancing healthcare services, with ample opportunities for the development of IoT for healthcare. With regards to NCDs, this would mean access to better coverage, surveillance and monitoring, and disease prevention.