The recent unveiling of the Draft Health Data Management Policy by the National Health Authority (NHA) has sparked discussions across various sectors. The NHA stands as the premier agency under the Indian Government, overseeing the creation and implementation of Ayushman Bharat and the National Digital Health Mission (NDHM). The draft policy is currently under public review and feedback.
The Essence of Draft Health Data Management Policy
At its core, the draft document intends to set a bare minimum standard for protecting health data privacy. It is envisioned as a cornerstone in the creation of an inclusive, accessible, affordable, timely, and secure National Digital Health Ecosystem. This ecosystem is meant to be a purveyor of a diverse range of data, information, and infrastructure services. At the same time, it aims to ensure the safeguarding of personal health-related information.
Objectives and Purpose
The prime objectives of this policy revolve around setting a framework for securely processing personal and sensitive health data. It seeks to create a system of digital personal and medical health records that are easily accessible by individuals and health service providers. This system is expected to be primarily voluntary, with its functioning based on the consent of individuals. It also aims at raising awareness regarding data privacy and ensuring national portability in health services. The policy also strives to establish suitable institutional mechanisms for auditing the National Digital Health Ecosystem and utilizing the existing information systems in the Indian health sector.
A Look at the Background
Our journey towards this draft policy started with the release of the National Health Policy in 2017 by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. This policy laid out the vision for a digital health technology ecosystem, intending to create an integrated health information system. A significant milestone was the release of the National Digital Health Blueprint (NDHB) in July 2019 by a committee led by the former Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) chairman. The NDHB recognized the necessity for a specialized organization called the NDHM for facilitating the evolution of the National Digital Health Ecosystem. The NDH was announced by the Prime Minister on the 74th Independence Day, i.e., 15th August 2020.
Way Forward
In the age of Big Data and digital data management, concerns about protecting various forms of sensitive personal information have been raised worldwide. While India acknowledges the right to privacy, laws regarding the protection of diverse datasets like Aadhar, DNA profiling, Aarogya Setu, etc., are still in the pipeline. The Draft Health Data Management Policy is a stepping stone towards safeguarding the health data of citizens. This proactive initiative comes ahead of the creation of a repository for health data.
Source: TH