70^th BPSC Mains

Approach Introduce with Digital Healthcare System. Discuss various initiatives of digital healthcare in India. Discuss the challenges of the digital healthcare system in India. Conclude suitably.

Introduction

India’s digital healthcare transformation is reshaping its medical ecosystem by promoting accessibility, equity, efficiency, and patient-centric care. Supported by Artificial Intelligence (AI), data analytics, and integrated platforms, digital healthcare is emerging as a pillar of Universal Health Coverage.

Body

Initiatives of Digital Healthcare in India:

• Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM): It aims to establish a comprehensive digital health ecosystem with components like health ID, Digi Doctor, and health records, enabling seamless care access.
• eSanjeevani Telemedicine Platform: It has facilitated over 20 crore consultations, especially supporting remote areas with virtual OPDs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• CoWIN Portal: It provided the digital backbone for India’s massive COVID-19 vaccination drive, ensuring real-time tracking, authentication, and equitable vaccine delivery.
• Tele-MANAS: It was launched in 2022 to provide free tele-mental health services, offering psychological counseling and psychiatric consultations across states.
• Ni-kshay 2.0: The platform supports tuberculosis control under the PM TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, enabling case monitoring, support to patients, and donor registration.
• Artificial Intelligence: AI-powered diagnostics in radiology and pathology now aid early and accurate detection of diseases like breast cancer, reducing false diagnoses by 1.2% to 2.7%.
  • AI in drug discovery is accelerating research. For instance, Insilico Medicine designed a fibrosis drug in just 46 days, revolutionizing traditional timelines.
• Medication: Personalised medicine is gaining traction through tools like IBM Watson Oncology, which helps doctors in over 230 hospitals devise targeted cancer therapies.

Challenges to Digital Healthcare in India:

• Regulatory Gaps: Regulatory Gaps exist due to the absence of legal frameworks around digital prescriptions and teleconsultations, enabling scope for unethical practices.
• Privacy Issues: Data Privacy and Cybersecurity concerns are growing, with breaches like the AIIMS ransomware attack exposing vulnerabilities in sensitive health systems.
• Infrastructure Gap: Lack of Digital Infrastructure, especially in rural and remote regions, hampers equitable access to telehealth and app-based services.
• Professional Shortage: Shortage of Trained Professionals to manage digital tools and AI systems limits effective implementation in government and primary health setups.
• Statutory Hurdles: No Statutory Definition of E-Pharmacy exists under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, leading to confusion in online drug sale regulation.
• Data Management: Big Data Management remains a challenge, as integrating massive volumes of medical records, genomics, and diagnostics needs strong analytical frameworks.
• Interoperability: Interoperability Issues across platforms and states hinder smooth data exchange, disrupting continuity of care and patient tracking.

Conclusion

Digital healthcare in India holds immense promise in ensuring affordable, accessible, and accountable health services. By bridging regulatory gaps, improving digital infrastructure, and strengthening institutional capacities, India can build a resilient and inclusive digital health system for the future.