PM Modi Launches New National Digital Health Mission; Each Indian To Get A Unique Health ID
Aug. 17, 2020On the occasion of the 74th Independence Day on Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched an ambitious“National Digital Health Mission”while addressing the nation from the Red Fort. It will see the countryassign a Health IDto every citizen, which will store all their medical records and simplify the process of getting access to medical services.
“From today, a major campaign is being launched in which technology will play a big role. The National Digital Health Mission is being launched today. This will bring a new revolution in India’s health sector and it will help reduce problems in getting treatment with the help of technology,”said PM Modi in his speech on Independence Day.
The National Health Authority (NHA) has been tasked with the design, roll-out, and the implementation of this mission. This project is currently being piloted in India’s 6 union territories – namely Ladakh, Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Puducherry, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Lakshadweep.
The Prime Minister hopes that a centralized mechanism will bring some efficiency and transparency in the healthcare sector in India. A citizen’s Health ID will most likely be created using his basic details and phone number or theAadhaarcard. It will easily be accessible via a mobile application, just likemAadhaar, and will see a seamless flow of medical information after the patient’s consent.
Also, India is currently in advanced stages of testing three COVID-19 vaccines. It will kick off mass production and dissemination once scientists give the green signal. The ongoing pandemic has given us quite an insight into the lacking health infrastructure in India. Thus, the National Digital Health Mission has been put forth to develop the digital infrastructure necessary to support the citizen’s medical needs in the future.
