India’s e-health initiatives

Health and Family Welfare Minister JP Nadda has said the resolution on digital health brought out by India was adopted by the 71st World Health Assembly, the decision-making body of the World Health Organization (WHO). Nadda stressed on the importance of building digital health ecosystem partnerships with private healthcare providers, academia, health IT practitioners, industry, patient groups and regulatory bodies. He had also said India was planning to create an integrated digital health platform and enable creation of electronic health records for the 1.3 billion people of India.  

e-Healthcare would cover online medical consultation, online medical records, online medicine supply, pan-India exchange for patient information, etc. National Health Portal (NHP) provides information to citizens and stakeholders in different languages (currently six languages Hindi, English, Tamil, Gujarati, Bengali, and Punjabi). A voice portal, providing information through a toll-free number 1800-180-1104 and Mobile App are also available. Online Registration System (ORS) launched in July 2015 provides services to citizens for taking online registration & appointment, payment of fees, online viewing diagnostic reports, enquiring availability of blood online etc. in various public hospitals. As on date, over 100 hospitals are on board. 

To empower citizens to participate in improvement of healthcare service delivery by providing feedback on service quality, facilities etc. at hospitals and ultimately help establish patient driven, responsive and accountable healthcare system, `Mera Aspataal’ (Patient Feedback) application has been launched. 'Sugam' application provides a single window for multiple stakeholders (Pharma Industry, Regulators, Citizens) involved in the processes of Central Drugs Standards Control Organisation. Food Safety and Standards Authority of India is offering services for Online License, Clearance, Product approval to the Food Business Operators.  

In order to promote organ donation amongst citizens at large, National Organ & Tissue Transplant Organisation through its web-portal offers services for Online Registration for Organ/Tissue Transplantation or Retrieval and Online pledge registry by citizen for organ donation. Currently, over 12 crore pregnant women and around 11 crore children have been registered on MCTS / RCH portal since inception. mDiabetes is a mobile-based initiative for prevention and care of diabetes by giving a missed call to 011-22901701. ANM on Line (ANMOL).  A tablet-based application for Integrated RCH Register which allows ANMs to enter and update data.