Indian digital health Mission Impossible

 Every Indian will get a new Aadhar-like health ID that will store the individual's medical records, including doctor visits, diseases, the line of treatment and drugs taken. The scheme will map every citizen's health with a unique ID. This will also come integrated with the facility of using telemedicine, e-pharmacy, creating a national health registry. 

WHAT is Digital ID 

The health ID will be in the form of a mobile application.

who creates digital Id?

 Patients can create a health ID. The new Health ID will be available in the form of a mobile application, where a user will log in and put all his/her relevant details to it. Doctors and pharmacies will update it with each physical or virtual visit.

what is the benefit of the ID?

It would  allow the CITIZENS to share their data between hospitals and doctors digitally. This digital format of the person’s health record will be linked to the registry of doctors and health facilities across the country, so any doctor can receive an individual’s information from anywhere. You’d never have to brief doctors on your history or carry the previous test report with you, as all your health information will be on your health ID.

How will it benefit people? 

This initiative will allow patients to access healthcare facilities remotely through e-pharmacies, online appointments, teleconsultation, and other health benefits. Besides, as all the medical history of the patient is recorded in the Health ID card, it will help the doctor to understand the case better, and improved medication can be offered.

DOES the citizen has the control over the data?

yes. They can choose for how long or what specific documents they would like to share with whom. 

But, If individuals are looking to benefit from government schemes, then they will be required to connect their ID to their Aadhaar.

what is the objective of NDHM?

Creating a system of personal health records, based on international standards, and easily accessible to the citizens and to the service providers, based on citizen-consent is one of the main objectives of NHDM.

to provide efficiency, accessibility, inclusiveness, security, and save time and money in meeting the healthcare needs of a country of 1.38 billion people. Of course, the digitization of the population’s health information into a single database is a fundamental step toward improving public health delivery.

WHAT IS NDHM?

 NDHM, a governmental organisation with complete functional autonomy on the lines of UIDAI . 

what india needs at present?
what millions face in the country are unreliable health-care facilities in both the government and private sectors, difficulties in getting timely care, availability of beds and hygienically maintained hospital premises, availability of doctors physically or on line, and the continuous neglect of preventive and community health initiatives.

what the PM Modi ji trying to  present?
He thinks data management is the panacea for all ills!
 data is the only cure, for all our ills.

what are the common doubts of common man and why?
because of its doubtful benefits to patients or because of worries regarding data leakage. 

Remember,India still lacking a law on data protection.

The recent data leak at Dr. Lal Path Labs, where the identified personal data of patients was stored (without a password) on a cloud, is evidence enough to show how the exposure of critical data without adequate security measures may put thousands at risk.

why new doubts about privacy?

If you are using digital banking, and have an active social media presence, you are already giving out a lot of information. If assurances from banks, payment companies, online food ordering firms and social media companies are good enough, then so should such assurances from the National Digital Health Mission.

Amidst the pandemic, over 16 crore people have already given valuable health-related information to the government by using the ‘Arogya Setu’ application. 

A lot of you have managed to make the first digital banking transaction or even a stock market trade on your smartphone. Many of you have already found out the ease with which you can make small payments from your phone. All of that is a massive leap already. Technology has to be an enabler to better healthcare.

Is it practically possible& viable?
we have millions of independent practitioners in allopathic and the Indian systems of medicine who run small dispensaries especially in rural areas, where there is no practice of even storing patient data on computers. so, its not feasible option to enter data in computers on their own or engage data entry operators merely to comply with the digitisation protocols.
does the huge costs incurred viable?
 Public health professionals estimate the cost in thousands of crores for all government and private HIPs to upgrade their hardware and connectivity systems, training of present staff, the entry of data afresh apart from other indirect costs.
does our country has any data compilation programs previously?
yes. Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme and the Health Management Information System (IDSP-HMIS).
does this health ID serves any purpose?
already we have several IDs, Aadhaar,  PAN card, bank cards... do they actually serve the purpose? Only with real time authentication can that be achieved. That is a challenge with Aadhaar also. So if I take this ID and go to a pharmacy, will it be authenticating me in real time? Is that even a possibility? Currently it is not happening with Aadhaar. Now, if you can enable real time authentication, you can add your data, like driving data, banking data. That has not yet been addressed. So, we are just adding another ID.

Any opposers fighting in court?

A digital rights organization called as  Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF) filed a petition on behalf of Dr. Satendra Singh on the draft health data management policy before the Delhi High Court.
we need a data protection authority or privacy commission. after the enactment of a strong Data Protection Act and the establishment of an independent regulator only govt can enact NDHM.
This new ID, in fact, still raises concerns about violating the spirit of the Supreme Court ruling, on sharing of sensitive data collected by the government with the private sector.
Few doubts?
 who will be the "consent managers" and "digital health records" that the policy mentions? Who are "health information users": will these be private parties? 

Lastly, health is a state subject within the federal structure of the Indian Constitution—the states would need to not only be consulted on this, they would be critical actors in hosting and using data, and would also have the legal right to regulate it.

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