In this age of promise and digitalization another idea the scale of which is unprecedented and boasts of a revolution in the healthcare sector in India and this is about The Ayushman Bharat Digital Initiative’s UHI or Unified Health Interface. The UHI is an attempt to build interoperability between healthcare providers and the service consumers which will in fact facilitate exchange of healthcare data and can make quality healthcare available to all. The need for a nationwide health network and services with easily operable modules is urgent and this program could satisfy some of the problems associated with the healthcare system in the countries. In addition a demand for ideas and start up initiatives are also on the roll which could help create jobs and could contribute to the economy in a pretty grand way. There are many positives about the scheme but problems both of scale and efficacy arise nonetheless. Its semblance to UPI or Unified Payments Interface is noteworthy in fact it is the very source and inspiration for the scheme. Further elaboration will lay stress upon its components, financial opportunities of the program, efficacy and the limitations of it all.
The Origins and Subsequent Advance
In lieu of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of Universal Health Coverage the Indian Government has expended significant efforts to promote the digitization of healthcare in the country. The program Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) launched by the Indian prime minister in September of 2021 aims to connect and integrate the healthcare system on a wholly digital basis. As of now there are no open protocols defined for delivery of digital health services. This results in the several segmented, non-interoperable platforms providing health services which adds to the inconvenience one faces when medical help is needed in earnest exacerbating the loophole riddled health infrastructure in the country. The National Health Authority or the NHA which oversees these sorts of developments in the health sector had in fact started planning vigorously at the end of last year and some of its prospects started coming to fruition in this year and some are still ongoing. In fact it had organised the first hackathon under the ABDM Hackathon Series from 14-17 July in Pune, Maharastra in a hybrid format. A sound digital healthcare system and creation of innovative solutions for the country is what the NHA desires and the same goes for the Hackathon too.
The UHI will be powered by decentralised health protocol (DHP) built by an open community of developers and deployed on a gateway built by NHA. It said that the proposed platform or setup would also be adding major versions of the DHPs developed by the community as and when it sees suitability of those apps. The NHA invited developers to join the DHP and in fact contribute in the formation of UHI through their ideas and vision. NHA said that any technology provider currently developing digital health solutions for hospitals, doctors, labs or consumers can create new solutions using DHPs and can become part of the UHI network.
Semblance and Compatibility with the UPI- A revolutionary network in itself the UPI acts as the major aggregator of payment receipts in the country connecting major banks, service providers and consumers in one go in real time thus reading out transactions massively. It works through an open protocol and has various layers to it though. Major apps which render the digital transaction facility through the UPI help this entire network function properly. The same is what is desired for this albeit in the healthcare sector. The lab reports, appointments with doctors, ordering medicines, checking the availability of hospital beds or Ambulances, many have to scourge through a range of platforms and indeed the information is scanty and the process somewhat tedious. Through the integrated systems approach and use of high tech modules as the Application Programming Interface (API) the numerous layers of the platform get facilitated on a single platform so ranging from issues such as doctor’s experience or even teleconsultation a consumer can be well serviced for. The IFTA 2022 was hosted by India FinTech Forum, a not for profit fintech advocacy group. In the program it was said that the app would revolutionise digital health service delivery and streamline the process. With digital transactions and transparency at the core would mean positive outcomes for users. Its position as a common platform would entail ease above all for the health care service providers by granting them access to a large number of users. Discussions also revolved around scalability and an accessible digital healthcare ecosystem.
Startup Opportunities – It is bound to create new avenues for aspiring developers and digital geeks but would also test their ideas in a very challenging way. The design layout and other app requirements are still in the preliminary stage and additions would be optimally considered. The synthesis and then its proper functioning would require a whole lot of technical knowledge and a finesse of the best kind. Various platforms would have to be assimilated to offer the services one would require and their delivery in a smooth manner. About 8-12 months still are required to make all these things come true. Apps made especially for engaging in product awareness could see an increase. Private sector opportunities and joint ventures could see enormous prospects.
Limitations- Certain limitations still could hamper its formation and growth. India has had a mixed healthcare system servicing a diverse population both regionally and in economic terms. The public and the private sector both of them operate in a joint manner. 62% of all of India’s healthcare infrastructure and 81% of her doctors provide their services in the private sector. The disparities in the case of rural and urban populations is even more glaring. The urban population has access to 66% of the healthcare infrastructure and if the network is established it is bound to happen that a significant part of the population cannot in any circumstances avail the services. The humongous costs involved in getting admitted into the system and the other large funds required for defraying services is not what most of the small private businesses could afford. So most of the small businesses are doubtful of their involvement in the proposed program. Charitable hospitals, clinics, diagnostic labs, pharmacies or nursing homes are even less inclined to join in for the reasons mentioned above. Although larger entities like Apollo Hospitals and Fortis Group’s SRL Labs have shown considerable excitement at the prospect and have already begun digitising the medical records of their patients on their own platforms so that eventual transfer of information could take place as and when the situation arises. Their integration into the UHI and the data pertaining to Health ID, healthcare professionals registry (HPR), Health facility registry (HFR), Health information exchange and consent manager is growing fast.
Certain problems still have to be dealt with properly if a sound network is in fact to be created. Easily replicable systems of management and networks must gain ascendancy in the digital talks and focus should be on consumer rights first and foremost. Numerous challenges and opportunities have to be answered especially by the entrepreneurs and the developers if the mission in fact wants to succeed.