LAUSR

A chronic illness like RA which can result in crippling, chronic pain and disability, needs a fourfold approach to address the wellbeing of the patient, namely physical medicine, suitable diet, mild to moderate exercise and mental/emotional wellbeing. This need for multipronged approach brings its own challenges in the current ecosystem of medical care in India. Adding to the fact that any treatment aimed at control/cure of RA can last for months and years makes the whole process tedious and frustrating at times. The organisation Parihaar aims to address this challenge by providing continuous support to the patient in order to equip them to become an active partaker in their treatment, and also aims to bring relevant stakeholders together. Parihaar addresses the gaps in current ecosystem in chronic autoimmune illness management with help from technology and the internet. Parihaar is a project that is underway. It is a patient initiative supported by a rheumatologist. Parihaar is a small step that is addressing a large issue. It is complementary to the current healthcare ecosystem in India, and its success truly depends on adoption and usage. The authors declare no conflicts of interest.