The Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare recently disclosed the National Digital Health Blueprint (NDHB) report to the public for suggestions from various stakeholders. Amidst India’s diverse and vast population, a comprehensive and holistic digital infrastructure becomes vital. Leveraging the digital realm’s potential can fulfil aspirations such as citizen-centricity, quality care, inclusiveness, universal health coverage, and better access. These principles form the foundation of a robust healthcare system. Thus, NDHB emerges as a guiding document, outlining a new digital architecture’s crafting and implementation.
National Digital Health Mission: A New Entity
NDHB recommends the establishment of a National Digital Health Mission (NDHM). This government body would operate with full functional autonomy, similar to the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) and Goods and Services Network (GSTN).
Objectives in Alignment with National Visions
The NDHB’s objectives align with the National Health Policy 2017 vision and the health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Key goals include managing core digital health data and seamless exchange, adopting open standards across the National Digital Health Ecosystem (NDHE), creating a system of Personal Health Records accessible to citizens and service providers, and enhancing governance efficiency and effectiveness at all levels.
Key Building Blocks of the Blueprint
NDHB has identified 23 critical building blocks for the successful implementation of NDHE. Vital capabilities include unique identification of persons, facilities, diseases, and devices through Personal Health Identifiers (PHI) and Health Master Directories & Registries. The blueprint aims to put citizens in control by maintaining confidentiality, security, and privacy of health records.
Service Access and Delivery Mechanisms
Service delivery and access will be facilitated through web portals, mobile apps, call centres, and social media platforms. A Command, Control and Communication Centre will facilitate real-time monitoring and interventions in NDHE. The blueprint envisages a ‘Mobile First’ principle for the stakeholder-facing services due to the widespread use of smartphones.
Importance of Interoperability
Interoperability across various building blocks is enabled by the Health Information Exchange and National Health Informatics Standards.
Implications from the 4th Global Digital Health Partnership Summit
The Delhi Declaration on digital health for sustainable development was recently adopted at the conclusion of the ‘4th Global Digital Health Partnership Summit.’ Hosted by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in collaboration with World Health Organization (WHO) and the Global Digital Health Partnership (GDHP), the summit provided an international collaboration platform.
The Global Digital Health Partnership (GDHP)
Established in February 2018, GDHP offers a collaboration platform for governments, government agencies, and multinational organisations dedicated to improving citizens’ health and well-being using evidence-based digital technologies. The inaugural summit was hosted by Australia in 2018.
World Health Organisation (WHO)
| Fact | Description |
|---|---|
| Establishment | 7th April 1948 |
| Headquarters | Geneva, Switzerland |
| Annual Meeting | World Health Assembly |
| Member States | 194 |
The World Health Organisation, a specialised agency of the United Nations, focuses on international public health. Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, WHO’s constitution came into effect on April 7, 1948, commemorated each year as World Health Day. The supreme decision-making body in WHO is the World Health Assembly, attended annually by delegations from 194 member states.