Enabling National Health Through Technology
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India is lucky to have emerged in the era of 4G and the upcoming 5G technology, which have enabled the country to create a digital infrastructure that ensures universal access to digital connectivity.
By - Dr RS Sharma
Abstract
This article focuses on the significant advancements that technology has brought to the healthcare industry in India. The Digital India initiative has established a strong digital infrastructure in the country, including a digital identity system that has authenticated billions of transactions. It also highlights the National Digital Health Commission’s role in creating digital public goods and promoting a digital mindset towards healthcare. He explains how the Indian government’s efforts to modernize the healthcare system through the creation of a digital platform for health services, a personal health record system, and a health account for every citizen have already yielded positive results. Overall, this article emphasizes the importance of a robust framework in the digital health ecosystem to ensure the successful implementation of digital health.
Introduction
In the past few decades, technology has had a pro- found and far-reaching impact on human society. As a result, the healthcare sector is also experiencing the effects of technological progress, such as the use of sensors and regulated devices. While both promising and challenging developments mark our present era, one positive trend is the integration of technology into healthcare. For example, video consultations with physicians became a common practice during the pandemic when in-person appointments were not feasible. This shift has been a valuable and helpful consequence of the pandemic, and it is likely to persist in the future.
India is fortunate to have been born during the time when 4G technology is prevalent, and the nation is currently in talks about the advancements of 5G technology. As a result, the country has been able to establish a comprehensive digital connectivity infrastructure that ensures access to digital connectivity for all individuals. This is an essential part of the Prime Minister’s Digital India program, which aims to expand digital connectivity across the nation. As part of Digital India, a digital identity system has been created, which has already provided a range of authentication services such as digital KYC, digital signatures, and electronic consent. The digital identity system has been highly successful, authenticating over 73 billion transactions in the past seven to eight years.
Apart from the establishment of digital identity, India has also achieved notable advancements in various technological domains like digital payment systems and social media, which are being leveraged for service delivery. In summary, the implementation of technology in healthcare has caused a significant transformative effect and will likely continue to shape the industry’s future. India has already established a strong digital infrastructure, and there are immense opportunities for further progress in the future.
Digital Public Goods: A Path to Affordable and Accessible Healthcare
The healthcare sector is quickly adapting and adopting digital technologies to make affordable and convenient services available to patients. With the advent of real-time platforms and sophisticated digital systems, the healthcare industry can extend its reach to more individuals and provide more comprehensive services. India, in particular, has shown promising outcomes in its innovative approach to healthcare delivery.
The Indian Prime Minister launched the National Digital Health Commission, with the primary objective of establishing a foundation of digital public goods within the country. Over the past year, this initiative has already accomplished substantial advancements, laying the groundwork for the delivery of digital health services.
One of the crucial components of this initiative involves establishing digital health facilities to provide citizens with access to reliable health information, telemedicine, and digital health records. The data collected through these facilities can be utilized by policy-makers to make informed decisions and enhance the overall healthcare system. Another aspect of the National Digital Health Commission is promoting a digital mindset towards healthcare. This involves creating a list of healthcare facilities equipped with cutting-edge technology and services, as well as a global reputation for hospitals and healthcare facilities to help patients locate the care they require. With the advent of digital public goods, the healthcare sector in India has the potential to offer millions of individuals access to affordable, high-quality services.
The primary aim is to ensure that all citizens receive the care they need when they need it, whether through telemedicine or other digital technologies. India is at the forefront of the digital future of healthcare.
Healthcare Revolution in India:
The Indian government is making significant strides towards modernizing the healthcare system through the creation of a digital platform for health services. This platform connects citizens with a network of healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, and other providers, making it more convenient for patients to access care. In addition, the platform offers video consultations, which increase accessibility and convenience for patients.
The government has also implemented a personal health record system, which allows individuals to link all their digital health records into a comprehensive health history that can be shared with insurance companies, doctors, and other medical professionals. This process streamlines the diagnostic process as patients no longer need to bring physical records to appointments.
Additionally, the government has established a health account for every citizen, which serves as a reference point for all health-related activities. This account is linked to a patient-centric digital health platform, allowing patients to manage their health information and control what information is shared and with whom.
The Indian government has implemented measures to ensure the seamless exchange of health information and the digitization of the healthcare system. An interoperable system has been created, allowing any health application to work with the digital health platform. This platform is based on open standards, ensuring compatibility and interoperability with other health applications. In addition, a real-time dashboard has been created, enabling citizens to track the state of the healthcare system and providing essential information on important metrics.
The government’s efforts in transforming the healthcare system have already yielded positive results, with a focus on patient-centred care, real-time data, and interoperability. The Indian healthcare system is well on its way to becoming a global model for others to emulate.
The Importance of a Robust Framework in the Digital Health Ecosystem:
Digital transformation has impacted various aspects of our lives, including the healthcare industry. People are increasingly seeking electronic access to their health information due to technological advancements. This shift towards digital health has the potential to enhance the accessibility, affordability, and quality of healthcare services.
To ensure the successful implementation of digital health, a strong framework is crucial. The framework must be able to scale, possess robustness, and be secure. It must also support the ecosystem of healthcare providers, such as hospitals, laboratories, pharmacies, and doctors. Additionally, the framework should facilitate the interoperability of healthcare systems, both domestically and internationally. Yet, the establishment of a digital healthcare ecosystem is not a simple task.
The healthcare sector is intricate and includes various stakeholders, each with distinct interests and apprehensions. For digital health to succeed, the participation of state governments, hospitals, and the medical community at large is critical. For digital health to be effective, everyone must embrace it. The viewpoint of public health should be considered, and the information gathered must be anonymous, combined, and shared with the government for policy formulation. The objective is to make healthcare services accessible, inexpensive, and first-rate for all. Interoperability is not a secondary consideration in digital health, but rather its fundamental building block. This means that data should be easily accessible and not restricted between different countries. While some countries still hesitate to share data, this should not be the case. Interoperability is necessary for the prosperity of digital health and is the foundation of our application.
To summarize, establishing a robust framework in digital health is vital for its success. It is crucial to obtain the support of state governments, hospitals, and the medical community. It is also important to prioritize interoperability from the beginning rather than as an afterthought. The goal is to enhance the accessibility, affordability, and quality of healthcare services for everyone.
FAQ :
Question 1: In terms of a timeline, when do you anticipate that this will be implemented at a national level?
Answer: The healthcare industry is interested in utilizing blockchain technology to overcome traditional data system limitations. Collaboration among stakeholders is essential for the success of a robust, scalable, and intrusive blockchain framework. Blockchain can create a secure digital identity for patients, giving them control over their health information and privacy. Interoperability is crucial to facilitate data exchange and improve care coordination. Affordable and accessible healthcare must be prioritized, and blockchain can provide anonymized data for policymaking. QR codes are a practical application of blockchain in healthcare, allowing patients to access their health information without physical contact. A collaborative effort can ensure effective blockchain utilization and improve healthcare outcomes.
