Uncovering the Indian Digital Health System and Its Regulatory Framework

Abstract

Historically, India has strived to ensure access to high-quality healthcare. Since the beginning of the flagship initiative, "Digital India Campaign," in 2015, India has been focusing on e-health. The Information Technology Enactments primarily regulate digital healthcare applications and service providers would be required to observe certain rules as an intermediary, to protect the sensitive personal information of patients. On the other hand, legislation has continued to lag behind technical improvements and is unable to address several crucial challenges. The ultimate authorities and their policies identified a more significant opportunity for strengthening the digital health ecosystem by launching the step forwarding initiatives. Through setting guidelines, the healthcare department has taken the proactive initiative of using the efficient integration of ICTs with the present health infrastructure. Indian health technologies are being provided protection under patent, copyright and trade laws. Barriers to providing healthcare remotely are being lowered all across the country. The focus of COVID-19 has moved from a thoughtful debate over whether to employ digital technologies towards an immediate need to reform practice.