National Digital Health Mission rolled out on pilot mode in 6 union territories

ambitious National Digital Health Mission (NDHM), unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, under which every Indian will get a health ID that will ease access to medical services has been rolled out on a pilot mode in six union territories.

National Health Authority (NHA), apex ncy responsible for implementation of Ayushman Bharat Prhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), has been given mandate by government to design, build, roll-out and implement NDHM in country. six union territories where mission was rolled out through a pilot launch are Chandigarh, Lakh, Dra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Puducherry, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshweep, NHA said in a statement.

In his Independence Day dress, prime minister said that under NDHM every Indian citizen will get a health ID which will store every individual's medical records and Mission will herald a new revolution in health sector.

"From today, a major campaign is being launched in which techlogy will play a big role. 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 help of techlogy," he said.

health ID will contain information about medical data, prescriptions and diagstic reports and summaries of previous discharge from hospitals for ailments. mission is expected to bring efficiency and transparency in healthcare services in country.

" NDHM aims to liberate citizens from challenges of finding right doctors, seeking an appointment with m, payment of consultation fee, making several rounds of hospitals for prescription sheets and will empower all Indians with correct information and sources enabling m to take an informed decision to avail best possible healthcare," NHA statement said.

Welcoming anuncement by prime minister, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said, "Based on initial learnings in UTs, we will grually work in partnership with states to launch NDHM. I seek whole-hearted support, inputs and cooperation of doctors, healthcare facilities, citizens and state governments to opt this game-changing scheme." NDHM is a holistic, voluntary healthcare programme that will reduce existing gap between various stakeholders such as doctors, hospitals and or healthcare providers, pharmacies, insurance companies, and citizens by bringing m toger and connecting m in an integrated digital health infrastructure, statement said.

NDHM comprises six key building blocks or digital systems - HealthID, DigiDoctor, Health Facility Registry, Personal Health Records, e-Pharmacy andTelemedicine - that will enable access to timely, safe and affordable healthcare through a 'citizen-centric' approach, it said.

All of se digital products except e-Pharmacy and telemedicine have been deployed and are up and running.

Providing details on key components of NDHM, NHA CEO Dr Indu Bhushan said, " core building blocks of NDHM such as Health ID, Digi-Doctor and Health Facility Registry shall be owned, operated and maintained by government of India. Private stakeholders will have an equal opportunity to integrate with se building blocks and create ir own products for market. However, core activities and verifications, for example, generation of Health ID or approval of a doctor/facility shall remain with government." ditional components, like Personal Health Record (PHR) and Electronic Medical Record (EMR) solutions can be developed by private players as well, in line with guidelines that will be issued. All such products by private participants shall be as per official guidelines taking care of security, privacy and standards of NDHM ecosystem, he elaborated.