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IoT Based Smart Healthcare Services for Rural Unprivileged People in Bangladesh: Current Situation and Challenges
1  North South University University

Abstract:

Healthcare is in the midst of a mobile transformation, and recent research indicates there's no end in sight to mobile technology use in patient care. Number of patients like COPD, heart disease, diabetic, cancer, and others are increasing day by day. In Bangladesh nearly 70 % people are living in rural areas now due to Covid-19 pandemic the number have increased more. It is very difficult for the rural people to get instant access to healthcare service in our country. Basically in remote areas of Bangladesh the facilities of MBBS doctors are not available. People mostly get medical treatment from nearby pharmacy or they need to travel very far distance (city hospitals) for getting medical treatment. In order to get this medical treatment facilities of MBBS doctor’s patients need to spend a lot of money for the purpose of travel, visit of doctors, medical tests and others. Rural people are not much aware about the non communicable diseases. They need to travel to city area to avail the medical treatment when they are very sick due to lack of medical facilities. It is very difficult for older people to travel far distance for the getting of medical diagnostic and treatment facilities. In this scenarios, IoT based smart healthcare services will be very helpful for the rural unprivileged people of our country. Life expectance of the rural people will be increased through the use of this smart healthcare facilities. IoT based smart healthcare services mean monitoring the health of the patients through the use of Computers, Mobile phone Tab, mobile and web applications and other technological devices such as smart IoT based wireless sensors device. In Bangladesh there are very few private companies providing IoT based healthcare services for rural people. Basic tests are done in the remote centers using the smart wireless sensors based smart medical devices and patients physiological data are sent to specialist doctors in the city using mobile phone and through online in real time. Prescriptions are provided through the use of online portal. Patients at remote areas are getting medical facilities staying in their village area. There are also few companies who are providing diagnostic facilities only for basic medical parameters using smart digital sensors to make awareness for no communicable disease and to reduce the number of such patients. From the research and study it is noted that some companies have stopped their services after two years from the start of their journey due to some challenges and some companies are continuing their services. The main goal of this paper is to analyze the current state of situation of IoT based smart healthcare services for rural unprivileged people in Bangladesh, and highlights the challenges associated with it. In order to accomplish this goal, companies who are providing this type of healthcare services are introduced, the main challenges are identified, current situation of the IoT based healthcare services and status have been identified and discussed.

Keywords: IoT Based Smart Healthcare Services; Rural Unprivileged; Current Situation; Challenges; COPD; Heart Disease; Diabetic; Mobile Phone; Tab; Covid-19 Pandemic; Mobile and Web Applications; IOT Based Smart Medical Devices.
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