National Health ID

Why in news?

Prime Minister announced a national health ID for every Indian.

What is the national health ID system?

• The national health ID will be a repository of all health-related information of a person.
• According to the National Health Authority (NHA), a person who wants their health records available digitally must create a Health ID.
• Each Health ID will be linked to a health data consent manager such as National Digital Health Mission that will be used to seek the patient’s consent.
• It will allow for seamless flow of health information from the Personal Health Records module.

How will the Health ID be created?

• It will be created by using a person’s basic details and mobile number or Aadhaar number.
• This will make it unique to the person, who will have the option to link all of their health records to this ID.

What was the original proposal for the health ID?

• The National Health Policy 2017 aimed at creating a digital integrated health information system that would serve the needs of all stakeholders.
• This system could improve efficiency, transparency and citizens’ experience with linkage across public and private healthcare.

What did the Niti Aayog do?

• Based on this proposal, in 2018, Niti Aayog floated a consultation of a digital backbone for India’s health system - National Health Stack.
• In this consultation, a Digital Health ID was proposed to reduce the risk of preventable medical errors and increase the quality of care.
• The system will also enable the users to obtain a longitudinal view of their healthcare records.

What did the Central government do?

• This Niti Aayog proposal was then further taken up by the Central government.
• The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the NHA, and the MietY prepared a strategy overview document.
• The document is about making India a digital health nation by enabling digital healthcare for all.

Which systems does the national health ID interact with?

• Various healthcare providers such as hospitals, labs, online pharmacies, insurance companies, etc., will participate in the health ID system.
• While option of digital Health ID will be there, in case a person does not want Health ID, then also treatment should be allowed.

Have there been global instances of such a health record system?

• In 2005, the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) started deployment of an electronic health record system.
• The goal was to have all patients with a centralised electronic health record by 2010.
• Many hospitals acquired electronic patient records systems as part of this process.
• But, there was no national healthcare information exchange.
• The project had been plagued by changing specifications, technical challenges and clashes with suppliers.
• This left it years behind schedule and way over cost.
• The program was dismantled after a cost to the UK taxpayer was more than £12 billion.

Source: The Indian Express