Digital Health Initiatives & Aarogya Setu 2.0

Why in News

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare launched several digital-health initiatives, including Aarogya Setu 2.0, to strengthen India's Digital Public Infrastructure for Health.

Important Initiatives

• Aarogya Setu 2.0
• Ayushman App
• Ayushman Sarathi WhatsApp Chatbot
• National Health Claims Exchange — NHCX
• Insurance Plan FHIR Object Creator
• e-Sushrut Clinic
• Unified Health Interface — UHI
• Drug Registry
• Common LOINC Codes for India — CLCI
• Bharat Health Terminology Service — BHTS

Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission — ABDM

Key progress highlighted:

• 90+ crore ABHA accounts
• 100+ crore health records

Important Institutions

• National Health Authority — NHA
• National Resource Centre for EHR Standards — NRCeS

UPSC Mains Angle

Digital Public Infrastructure in healthcare can improve:

1. Portability of health records
2. Interoperability between hospitals
3. Insurance-claim processing
4. Accessibility of healthcare
5. Data-driven policymaking
6. Continuity of patient care

Issues to Analyse

• Data privacy
• Cybersecurity
• Digital divide
• Consent management
• Interoperability
• Digital literacy
• Exclusion of people without smartphones/internet

GS Link

GS II: Health, Governance, Government Policies
GS III: Technology and Digital Infrastructure

Prelims Key Note

ABHA → Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission → Digital health identity/ecosystem