Teleradiology: A review of growth, challenges, and future potential

Teleradiology has become an innovative solution in the healthcare scenario of India, bridging the distance between urban radiological expertise and rural diagnostic requirements. The current narrative review discusses the development, present scenario, and future promise of teleradiology in India. It identifies the technological upgradation, growing internet penetration, and digital health initiatives by the government that have fueled its development. Despite these advances, teleradiology continues to face challenges such as inconsistent internet availability, regulatory uncertainty, data security issues, and limited skilled workforce. The analysis also highlights how the need for remote diagnostics was critical during the COVID-19 pandemic, vindicating its utility in remote diagnosis. In the future, convergence with artificial intelligence, machine learning, and cloud-based platforms will improve accuracy, decrease turnaround times, and increase access. In order for teleradiology to achieve its maximum potential in India, a concerted effort toward policy change, infrastructure improvement, and standardized training is necessary. This review emphasizes the necessity of sustainable approaches to provide equal and quality diagnostic care throughout the country.