siliconindia | | November 20219When it comes to the query of details security, the NHA claims ABDM does not store any of the ben-eficiary health records. The records are collected and saved by healthcare information providers according to their "retention policies" and are "shared" over the ABDM network "with encryption mechanisms" only after the beneficiary declares con-sent.The beneficiary can delete and exit the platform whenever they wish. The NHA confirms that ABDM sup-ports such a feature. It provides two options: a user can permanently de-lete or temporarily deactivate their health ID. On cancellation, the unique health ID will be permanently de-leted, along with all demographic details. The beneficiary will not re-claim any information tagged to that health ID in the future. They won't access ABDM applications or any health records over the ABDM net-work with the deleted ID.On deactivation, the beneficiary will lose access to all ABDM appli-cations only for the period of deac-tivation. Until they reactivate their health ID, they should not share the ID at any health facility or share health records over the ABDM net-work.AVAILABLE CONVE-NIENCES FOR THE BENEFICIARIESThe digital health records can be ac-cessed right from admission through treatment and discharge. Additional-ly, health ID allows linking personal health records to create a long-term health history. An expected novel feature will facilitate access to verified doctors across the country. The beneficiary can generate a health ID for their child and digital health records right from birth, and they can also add a nominee to reach her health ID and view or manage the personal health records. Moreover, there will be much complete access, with the health ID available to people who don't possess phones, applying as-sisted methods.Furthermore, private hospitals also get collateral with the govern-ment's digital ID. The NHA has be-gun the NDHM Sandbox: a digital architecture that supports private players as part of the National Digital Health Ecosystem as health informa-tion providers or health information users.The private players can send re-quest to NHA to check its system with the Sandbox environment.Afterward, the NHA will pro-vide the key to the private players to access the Sandbox environment and the health ID application pro-gramming interface (API). Then, the private players can create a Sandbox health ID, integrate its software with the API, and register the software to test link records and process health data consent requests. Once the sys-tem is tested, it will ask for a demo to the NHA to progress. After a sat-isfying demo, the NHA certifies and impanels the private hospital.SIGNIFICANCE OF THE INITIATIVE As per the PM statement, the initiative has the potential to "increase the ease of living" along with "simplifying the procedures in hospitals."At the initial stage, there is a lim-itation on the use of digital health ID in hospitals. It is restricted to only one hospital or a single group and is main-ly concentrated in large private chains. Hence, the novel initiative will make the whole ecosystem on a single plat-form. For example, if someone is getting treated at AIIMS, Delhi, and willing to move to another hospital in a differ-ent city. Suppose the hospital is also on the centralized ecosystem. In that case, the patient does not require phys-ical health records or files of several years of treatment, as the medical his-tory is promptly available.
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