National Digital Health Blueprint: released by Health Ministry

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan released National Digital Health Blueprint (NDHB) which aims to create National Digital Health Eco-System, in public domain. Health Ministry also sought inputs from various stakeholders on its vision.

Background

Information Technology (IT) enabled schemes in health sector such as Ayushman Bharat Yojana (or Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana or National Health Protection Scheme), Reproductive Child Healthcare (RCH), NIKSHAY (a Tuberculosis control programme) etc. are benefitting patients at right time with right service delivery. Now, there is a need to ensure convergence across all these IT systems to monitor and provide health services in a robust and efficient manner. Thus in this background, Union Ministry of Health has initiated efforts in direction of a comprehensive, nationwide integrated e-Health system under National Digital Health Blueprint.

About National Digital Health Blueprint

NDHB is in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi vision to reach each individual of India with services at their doorstep under Digital India programme.

NDHB Vision: To create a National Digital Health Eco-system that supports Universal Health Coverage (UHC) through a wide-range of data, IT/IT Enabled Services (IT/ITES), information and infrastructure services by duly leveraging open an interoperable, standards-based digital systems that will ensure security, confidentiality and privacy of health-related personal information.

Significance: It will strengthen Digital India and accelerate efforts towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

Way Ahead:

Currently the need is to create an ecosystem which can integrate existing health information systems and can also show a clear path for upcoming programmes for ensuring interoperability of Electronic Health Record (EHR) or electronic medical record.

Government sought feedback and inputs from all stakeholders to make this “digital revolution” more inclusive and collaborative.

Month: Current Affairs - July, 2019