New Delhi, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Monday unveiled the ‘National Digital Health Blueprint’, which aims to move from IT to ecosystem technology, bringing all stakeholders on a common e-health platform. Dr Vardhan here said the NDHB is set to accelerate our efforts towards achieving Universal Health Coverage with complete transparency and accountability. India shall hence lead the world in digital healthcare revolution.
The Minister said the need of the hour is to create an ecosystem which can integrate the existing health information systems and show a clear path for upcoming programmes for ensuring interoperability of Electronic Health Record (EHR).
“We have made a mark in history by launching Ayushman Bharat Yojana which is operational on a robust IT Platform. Other IT enabled schemes like Reproductive Child Healthcare, NIKSHAY are also benefitting the patients at right time with right service delivery. There is a need to ensure convergence across these IT systems to monitor and provide health services in a robust and efficient manner.’
“The digital health interventions are accelerating this transformation and have a huge potential for supporting Universal Health Coverage,” Dr Vardhan added.
He said this is in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to create a Digital India where technology becomes an enabler for India’s development story. Also, this blurprint will provide a seamless corridor for connecting all stakeholders.
‘People will get PIH number just like their Aadhaar cards based on which they will get their health details,’ the Minister added.
“The digital health interventions are accelerating this transformation and have a huge potential for supporting Universal Health Coverage (UHC). India has everything that can help it achieve Health for all,” he stated.
Minister of State for Health Ashwini Kumar Choubey, who was also present on the occasion, said this step will help the health sector become more transparent, as people will be able to get all the information related to diseases, hospitals and doctors on their phones.
This blueprint will improve the quality of healthcare, universal health coverage in a better, efficient, affordable, timely and safe manner through the provision of a wide range of data, information, and infrastructure services.