By Kamesh Shekhar and Kazimi Rizvi

Technology has largely changed the socio-economic dynamics in India, with significant adoption in various sectors such as financial inclusion and healthcare. India’s growing digital footprint has transformed it from a technology adopter to creating scalable technologies that complement the ecosystem. It covers various technologies and concepts such as eHealth, wearable devices, telehealth and telemedicine, health information technologyetc., to emphasize on access and delivery of health services.

India has implemented various technological systems using digital public infrastructure (DPI) encourages increased use of technology in medical settings, as a backbone. These technological developments supported by DPI can help us by enhancing the existing concerns India faces in terms of control Non-Communicable DiseasesDue to which about 61 percent deaths occur in India.

Enhanced Data-driven decision-making

It is important to take data-driven decisions to leverage the affordances of data collected, stored and analyzed to better understand the complexities of current healthcare challenges and accordingly, develop effective solutions. The most effective use of data for healthcare solutions emphasizes efficient use of data already collected and stored, such as Dell Technologies’ Digital Lifecare initiative, which addresses the issue of data access and management across an ecosystem of workers, doctors and Solves. Officers should take better and efficient decisions. They work with Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA), a DPI initiative to help citizens track their health digitally.

India is a pioneer in the Personal Health Record (PHR) system, where health information is stored, maintained and controlled by individuals. Such innovations go beyond the affordances allowed by electronic medical records (EMR), which are digital versions of medical paper charts produced by physicians in a practice and go toward providing a more comprehensive and holistic look at an individual’s medical history. where non-communicable diseases (NCDs) can be prevented at an early stage and medical personnel can be empowered to enhance patient education. The mechanism also streamlines data flows, leading to a shift in healthcare delivery towards efficiency, accessibility and scalability in the rapidly growing health tech landscape. Furthermore, data-driven processes are not only important for overall health care delivery and access, but are also applicable in emerging technologies. , Such as artificial intelligence (AI), which has recently joined hands with the Government of India’s Rs 10,371.92 crore AI Mission. This much-needed computing power will help startups and innovators implement responsible AI projects, including tackling problems in health care through automation, prediction, and decision support for physicians and researchers.

However, data-driven decision making will require active involvement of all stakeholders, including industry and government, in creating datasets that adequately represent populations and consider relevant differences between scenarios. Initiatives like Digital LifeCare, which has reached 238 million people across India, demonstrate the potential of public-private partnerships (PPPs) in addressing healthcare challenges. More such partnerships can create the accurate, rapid data feedback loops needed to strengthen and continually improve program delivery, monitoring and management, and assist the executive in making informed data-driven decisions in health.

Strengthening public health surveillance and disease management

As is evident from the COVID-19 experience, including testing and tracing and vaccination, digital health initiatives play a vital role in monitoring public health and disease management. Working closely with the government, several initiatives have been transformative, such as digital monitoring and management of NCDs. Additionally, such platforms have bridged the digital divide and empowered Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) workers by providing actionable and timely advice to medical personnel working offline and in 11 regional languages, expanding their reach. And the reach has increased significantly.

Such initiatives have greatly assisted policy makers in formulating appropriate strategies to scale up health care at the national level and in developing blueprints for improving access and quality of health care globally. These initiatives have significantly accelerated the spread of digital health initiatives and supported governments and policy makers in monitoring public health and mitigating any potential negative consequences of health issues.

Therefore, as India prepares to take advantage of the world’s youngest population, we must use technological innovations to protect them from NCDs. A strong and healthy India is important for India’s Amrit Kaal Vision 2047.

This article is written by Kamesh Shekhar, Senior Program Manager-Privacy, Data Governance and AI, The Dialogue and Kazimi Rizvi, Founding Director, The Dialogue.

(Disclaimer: The views expressed are solely those of the author and ETHealthworld.com does not necessarily subscribe to it. ETHealthworld.com will not be responsible for any damage caused to any person/organization, directly or indirectly )