The world has very few devices left to fight COVID-19 (CLAT2020)

The world has very few devices left to fight COVID-19 with, but technology remains one of
them. Whether it is employing the state-of-the-art technology in the discovery of cures or
vaccines, or traditional technology services to enhance health care and consultations, or even
tools that keep people at home occupied/productive, it is clear that technology will serve
humanity at one of its darkest moments. The pandemic has contributed, in no small measure,
to the understanding of the myriad ways in which available technologies have not been put to
better use, and presented people with multiple opportunities to harness these devices,
techniques and methods to get on with life in the time of lockdown. Among the primary uses
is telemedicine, rendered inexorable now, by the temporary paralysis brought on by a freeze
on movement. The Centre‘s recent guidelines allowing for widespread use of telemedicine
services came as a shot in the arm for telehealth crusaders in the country, among them the
Telemedicine Society of India that has long been battling to use the technology in its
complete arc to reach remote areas in India. This move finds consonance with the rest of the
world where several nations, also deeply impacted by the pandemic, have deployed
telemedicine to reach people who have been unable to come to hospital, to reduce footfalls in
hospitals, and to even provide medical and mental health counselling to countless people. It
was way back in 2000 that telemedicine was first employed in India, but the progress has
been excruciatingly slow, until the pandemic. However, it does seem as if the medical
community was only held back by the lack of legislation to enable tele consultations. For no
sooner was the policy announced, than hospitals and clinicians hurried to jump onto the
bandwagon, advertising contact information for patients. The advantages are peculiar in the
current context, when putting distance between people is paramount, as tele consultations are
not barred even when health care professionals and patients may have to be quarantined. The
advancement of telecommunication capabilities over the years has made the transmission of
images and sound files (heart and lung sounds, coughs) faster and simpler. Pilot telemedicine
experiments in ophthalmology and psychiatry have proven to be of immense benefit to the
communities. Telemedicine‘s time is here, finally. While unleashing the full potential of
telemedicine to help people, experts and government agencies must be mindful of the
possible inadequacies of the medium, and securing sensitive medical information; such
cognisance should guide the use of the technology.
[From an Editorial published in „The Hindu‟ on April 17, 2020]

1. Which one of the following words from the passage means ‗unavoidable‘?
a) Inexorable
b) Myriad
c) Excruciatingly
d) Bandwagon


2. Which of the following best summarizes the main idea of the passage?
a) It is time to unleash the full potential of Telemedicine.
b) It is time to unleash the full potential of Telemedicine with cognisance of its possible
flaws.
c) Technology has not been utilised to its fullest to suit the current needs.
d) People should not be skeptical about the advantages of telemedicine.


3. Which of the following is a significant factor contributing in slow employment of
Telemedicine in India?
a) Telemedicine was never employed in India.
b) There was an absence of regulations regarding the use of telemedicine consultations and
medication systems.
c) Telemedicinal Society of India failed in its efforts to promote the importance of such a
system in the country.
d) All of the above.


4. Telecommunication based medication has the potential for an easy outreach because:
a) Pilot experiments in telemedicine have been proved to be successful.
b) It helps in easier communication of medical images from one place to another.
c) It helps in securing sensitive medical information.
d) All of the above.


5. What is the meaning of the expression ‗Shot in the arm‘ used in the passage?
a) Hitting the nail on its head.
b) Bull‘s Eye
c) Positive Impact on something
d) All of the above.