श्री सिद्धार्थ श्रीनिवासन, सीईओ, लुपिन डिजिटल हेल्थ (LDH), तकनीक के माध्यम से रोगियों के बेहतर परिणाम सुनिश्चित करने पर केंद्रित डिजिटल थेरेप्यूटिक्स पहलों का नेतृत्व कर रहे हैं। टेक-ड्रिवन व्यवसायों को बड़े पैमाने पर आगे बढ़ाने का अनुभव रखने वाले वे इससे पहले एक दशक तक टाटा समूह से जुड़े रहे। उन्होंने एस.पी. जैन से पीजीडीएम और वीएनआईटी से बी.टेक की डिग्री प्राप्त की है। डॉ. सौम्या सिंह, क्रिएटिव एडिटर, उनसे स्वास्थ्य सेवा में डिजिटल थेरेप्यूटिक्स की भूमिका पर बातचीत कर रही हैं।

भारत में शहरी और ग्रामीण क्षेत्रों में डिजिटल थेरेप्यूटिक्स किस प्रकार स्वास्थ्य सेवाओं को बदल रहे हैं?

डिजिटल थेरेप्यूटिक्स भारत में स्वास्थ्य सेवाओं के परिदृश्य को तेजी से बदल रहे हैं।

• शहरी क्षेत्रों में टेलीहेल्थ और मोबाइल हेल्थ सॉल्यूशन्स का व्यापक रूप से उपयोग हो रहा है।
• ग्रामीण क्षेत्रों में भी धीरे-धीरे टेलीहेल्थ और डिजिटल थेरेप्यूटिक्स का अपनापन बढ़ रहा है, क्योंकि लोग विशेषज्ञ डॉक्टरों की सेवाओं तक पहुँच बनाना चाहते हैं।

अब ध्यान संक्रामक रोगों से हटकर गैर-संक्रामक रोगों (NCDs) पर केंद्रित हो गया है, जिनमें कार्डियोमेटाबोलिक बीमारियाँ (जैसे उच्च रक्तचाप और मधुमेह) शामिल हैं। इन स्थितियों से भारत की बड़ी आबादी प्रभावित है, और डिजिटल थेरेप्यूटिक्स इन्हें नियंत्रित करने में महत्वपूर्ण भूमिका निभा सकते हैं।

इसके अलावा, श्वसन रोग, महिला स्वास्थ्य, कैंसर, नवजात शिशु देखभाल और मानसिक स्वास्थ्य जैसे क्षेत्रों में भी उल्लेखनीय प्रगति हो रही है।

कार्डियोलॉजी (हृदय रोग विज्ञान) में डिजिटल थेरेप्यूटिक्स की क्या भूमिका है?

हृदय रोगों में डिजिटल थेरेप्यूटिक्स तीन प्रमुख पहलुओं में मददगार हैं:

• सक्रिय निगरानी (Active Monitoring): मरीज अपने लक्षण और महत्वपूर्ण संकेत (Vitals) वास्तविक समय में साझा कर सकते हैं, जिससे सही समय पर हस्तक्षेप संभव होता है।
• अनुपालन (Adherence): यह सुनिश्चित करता है कि मरीज नियमित रूप से दवा लें और समय-समय पर चेकअप करवाएँ।
• जागरूकता और पुनर्वास (Awareness & Rehabilitation): मरीजों को जीवनशैली सुधारने और रिकवरी में व्यापक सहायता प्रदान की जाती है।

डिजिटल थेरेप्यूटिक्स प्लेटफ़ॉर्म में डेटा गोपनीयता और सुरक्षा कैसे सुनिश्चित की जाती है?

• कानूनों का पालन: भारत में डिजिटल पर्सनल डेटा प्रोटेक्शन बिल और अमेरिका में HIPAA जैसे नियम।
• सूचना सुरक्षा प्रणाली: ISO 27001 जैसे मानकों के अनुसार।
• नियमित ऑडिट और जाँच।
• डेटा एन्क्रिप्शन और सीमित एक्सेस।
• सुरक्षित क्लाउड सेवा प्रदाताओं के साथ साझेदारी।
• मरीजों को अपने डेटा पर नियंत्रण: वे चाहें तो जानकारी एक्सेस या डिलीट कर सकते हैं।

AI एकीकरण डिजिटल थेरेप्यूटिक्स की प्रभावशीलता कैसे बढ़ा रहा है?

• प्रीडिक्टिव मॉडल्स: संभावित स्वास्थ्य समस्याओं का पहले से अनुमान।
• नेचुरल लैंग्वेज प्रोसेसिंग: चैटबॉट्स और वर्चुअल असिस्टेंट्स मरीजों के सवालों का जवाब देते हैं।
• क्लिनिकल डिसीजन सपोर्ट: डॉक्टरों को मरीज की जानकारी का सारांश और व्यक्तिगत इलाज योजनाएँ सुझाना।
• जोखिम मूल्यांकन (Risk Assessment): री-अडमिशन या जटिलताओं की संभावना का अनुमान।
• कंप्यूटर विज़न: स्मार्टफोन इमेज से बीमारियों का आकलन।

आने वाले 5–10 वर्षों में कौन-सी नई तकनीकें डिजिटल थेरेप्यूटिक्स पर सबसे बड़ा प्रभाव डालेंगी?

• वेयरेबल्स (Wearables): स्मार्टवॉच और अन्य उपकरणों का व्यापक उपयोग।
• गैर-आक्रामक मॉनिटरिंग: बिना सुई या कफ के ब्लड प्रेशर और ग्लूकोज की निगरानी।
• AI-आधारित बिहेवियरल मॉडल्स: बेहतर अनुपालन सुनिश्चित करने हेतु।
• कंप्यूटर विज़न: व्यायाम की सही तकनीक पर वास्तविक समय फीडबैक।
• ऑगमेंटेड रियलिटी (AR): मरीज शिक्षा और सर्जिकल प्लानिंग में उपयोग।

भारत और वैश्विक स्तर पर डिजिटल थेरेप्यूटिक्स बाजार का भविष्य कैसा है?

• भारत में: AI-आधारित हेल्थकेयर बाजार तेजी से विस्तार कर रहा है।
• वैश्विक स्तर पर: वेयरेबल्स का बाजार उल्लेखनीय रूप से बढ़ने की संभावना है।
• वर्तमान में स्वास्थ्य सुविधाओं में डिजिटल थेरेप्यूटिक्स का उपयोग अभी भी कम है, जिससे वृद्धि की अपार संभावना है।

हृदय रोगों की देखभाल में डिजिटल थेरेप्यूटिक्स का दृष्टिकोण क्या है?

विशेषज्ञ टीम (केयर मैनेजर, न्यूट्रिशनिस्ट, व्यायाम विशेषज्ञ)।

• मरीज, डॉक्टर और देखभालकर्ताओं के लिए ऐप इकोसिस्टम।
• मान्यता प्राप्त चिकित्सा उपकरणों का एकीकरण।
• पोस्ट-प्रोसीजर से लेकर क्रॉनिक कार्डियक कंडीशन्स तक की देखभाल।
• एविडेंस-बेस्ड केयर: नवीनतम क्लिनिकल गाइडलाइन्स पर आधारित।

डिजिटल थेरेप्यूटिक्स स्वास्थ्य सेवाओं को अधिक सुलभ और किफायती कैसे बनाते हैं?

• दूरस्थ परामर्श और मॉनिटरिंग, अस्पताल जाने की आवश्यकता कम।
• विशेषज्ञों तक पहुँच, खासकर डॉक्टरों की कमी वाले क्षेत्रों में।
• यात्रा और आवास जैसे छिपे हुए खर्चों में कमी।
• नियमित देखभाल के बीच निरंतर समर्थन, जिससे जटिलताओं से बचाव।
• AI और तकनीक के ज़रिए बड़े पैमाने पर व्यक्तिगत देखभाल।
• मरीजों को आत्म-प्रबंधन के लिए ज्ञान और उपकरण उपलब्ध।

The post स्वास्थ्य सेवा में बदलाव: भारत और वैश्विक स्तर पर डिजिटल थेरेप्यूटिक्स की भूमिका appeared first on InnoHEALTH magazine.

In the latest episode of the InnoHealth Magazine podcast, host Dr. Soumya Singh sat down with Mr. Sanjay Jain, Founder and CEO of Akhil Systems Pvt. Ltd., to explore the evolving landscape of healthcare IT in India. With over three decades of experience in healthcare digitization, Mr. Jain offered rich insights into the journey of Akhil Systems, the digital transformation of hospitals, and the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

A Three-Decade-Long Journey

Founded in 1994, Akhil Systems emerged out of a vision to fill the glaring gaps in healthcare automation. Mr. Jain recalled joining the company as a software developer, eventually becoming its co-leader with Rekha Murthy, his business and life partner. Their commitment to improving healthcare delivery through technology has fueled the company’s success across India and in more than 10 countries globally.

The company’s first major milestone came in 1995 with Mulchand Hospital in North India. This was followed by key partnerships with hospitals like Yashoda and Teerath Ram. An international breakthrough came in 2001 with an implementation project in Saudi Arabia—an experience that exposed Akhil Systems to sophisticated insurance and electronic medical record (EMR) requirements, far ahead of India’s at the time.

Turning Points in Health IT

A critical turning point arrived in 2004 with an ambitious project for STS Apollo Hospital in Dhaka, Bangladesh (now Evercare). The goal was to build a paperless hospital on par with European standards. Mr. Jain proudly shared that for the last 20 years, patients at that facility haven’t carried a single paper prescription—proof of the system’s enduring success.

Challenges of EMR Adoption

Despite technological advancements, EMR adoption remains inconsistent in India. Mr. Jain emphasized that the barrier is rarely technological—it’s often behavioral. Even when hospitals are equipped with capable software, implementation falters due to inadequate planning, insufficient training, and resistance to change among medical staff. He stressed the importance of top-down commitment and continuous support to ensure successful adoption.

“One of the biggest lessons,” Mr. Jain said, “is that mindset matters more than the system. The same EMR works wonders in one hospital and is barely used in another.”

Key Features for Successful Implementation

Akhil Systems developed unique solutions like single-window billing and multilingual pharmacy packaging to streamline patient experiences. These innovations, supported by user-friendly apps and doctor-focused tools, highlight the importance of customizing IT systems to suit local workflows and user needs.

Mr. Jain offered practical advice to hospitals considering a Health Information System (HIS) purchase:

• Start with a clear needs assessment
  
• Involve consultants or expert teams
  
• Focus on patient-centric design
  
• Ensure interoperability and clinical documentation standards
  
• Plan for seamless scalability and integration
  

Data Security: A Growing Concern

With increasing digitization, cybersecurity has become a critical issue. Mr. Jain admitted that this area has often been neglected but is now gaining attention following recent ransomware attacks. He stressed the importance of data encryption, secure communication protocols, regular backups, and robust firewall protections—whether data is stored on-premise or in the cloud.

“Security should be baked into the infrastructure and application from the start,” he warned, highlighting the role of standards like HIPAA, GDPR, and India’s upcoming DPDP Act.

The Future: AI, IoT, and Digital Ecosystems

Looking ahead, Mr. Jain is optimistic. He believes the next five years will be transformative for Indian healthcare, driven by:

• Wider EMR adoption under national initiatives like ABDM
  
• Remote patient monitoring using IoT and wearable devices
  
• AI-powered diagnostics that assist clinicians with early detection
  
• Mobile-first platforms that offer patients real-time access to their data

His company is preparing for this future with “Agastam,” a new cloud-native, microservices-based platform aimed at overcoming traditional EMR adoption challenges.

Final Thoughts

Mr. Jain’s journey is a testament to how passion, persistence, and purpose can drive meaningful change. From a developer to a leader in digital healthcare, his story mirrors India’s own transition from paper-based systems to intelligent, connected healthcare networks.

As he aptly summarized: “Digital transformation in healthcare is no longer optional. It is a necessity—and the time to act is now.”

Authors Biography

Sanjay Jain, Managing Director of Akhil Systems Pvt. Ltd., boasts three decades in healthcare IT. He transformed Akhil systems into a top global provider, implementing HIS in over 450 hospitals and earning multiple industry awards.

The post The Digital Backbone of Modern Healthcare: India’s Health IT Transformation appeared first on InnoHEALTH magazine.

Amidst the digital age, where personal data has become the cornerstone, safeguarding this precious asset takes center stage, especially in the realm of healthcare. The Digital Personal Data Protection Bill 2023, a pioneering legislative stride, holds the promise of reshaping the landscape of data security and privacy, particularly in the context of healthcare. Carved with meticulous attention to individual rights and the requisites of the digital healthcare domain, this bill presents a comprehensive framework that seeks to harmonize data processing necessities with the crucial need to shield personal health data. The term “personal data” holds significance, especially in healthcare, denoting any information tied to an individual’s identity or location. This sensitive information is subjected to processing for a multitude of purposes, ranging from the provisioning of medical services by both private healthcare providers and public health agencies. 

The processing of personal health data fosters an understanding of patients’ preferences, which proves valuable for personalized medical care, targeted health interventions, and the generation of medical recommendations. However, the processing of such information also raises pertinent concerns, particularly concerning potential breaches in relation to law enforcement activities. The unchecked processing of health data has the potential to encroach upon the fundamental right to privacy, which gains even greater importance in healthcare contexts. The failure to ensure proper checks might expose individuals to adverse outcomes, including financial losses, damage to medical reputation, and the creation of unwarranted health profiles. In the current scenario, India’s healthcare sector grapples with the absence of a dedicated law addressing the safeguarding of personal health data. While the Information Technology Act of 2000 does impose certain limitations on the use of personally identifiable information, a specialized legislation specific to healthcare data protection remains lacking. 

Building upon this foundation, in December 2019, the Lok Sabha received the Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019. Shaped by the Committee’s recommendations, this bill was subsequently referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee, which released its findings in December 2021. However, a temporary withdrawal of the bill from parliamentary consideration occurred in August 2022. Notably, the healthcare community and the public were granted the opportunity to review and provide feedback on a draft legislation version in November 2022. Finally, marking a significant stride towards safeguarding healthcare data, the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill 2023 was officially introduced to Parliament in August 2023, warranting careful consideration in the context of healthcare’s digital transformation.

1. The Digital Personal Data Protection Bill 2023: A Paradigm Shift

Recognizing the urgency of the situation, the Indian government has taken a visionary step by introducing the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill 2023. This transformative legislation seeks to bridge the gap between the escalating demand for data-driven services and the imperative to safeguard individual privacy rights. Furthermore, the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill 2023 exercises jurisdiction over the processing of digital personal data within India, encompassing data collected through online channels or digitized from offline sources. Moreover, its scope extends beyond India’s borders to encompass data processing conducted outside the nation’s boundaries, particularly concerning the provision of goods or services within India.

The bill emphasizes that personal data can only be processed for lawful purposes with the explicit consent of the individual concerned. However, certain exceptions exist where consent might not be obligatory. These include instances of voluntary data sharing by individuals or data processing conducted by the State for purposes such as issuing permits, licenses, benefits, and services.

Under the provisions of the bill, Data Fiduciaries are obligated to uphold the accuracy and security of the data they process. They are further required to delete the data once its intended purpose has been fulfilled, thereby promoting responsible data management practices. The bill extends a range of rights to individuals, including the right to request the correction and erasure of inaccurate data, as well as providing a mechanism for addressing grievances related to data processing.

In addition, the bill grants the central government the authority to exempt government agencies from specific provisions, particularly in cases where such exemptions are deemed necessary for the security of the state, public order, or the prevention of offenses. To ensure compliance with the provisions of the bill, the central government will establish the Data Protection Board of India. This board will be entrusted with the task of adjudicating cases of non-compliance and ensuring the effective implementation of the bill’s regulations.

2. Forging a Resilient Data Ecosystem

The Digital Personal Data Protection Bill 2023 stands as a testament to India’s commitment to fostering a digital ecosystem that champions innovation while safeguarding individual rights and data security. With its comprehensive framework, the bill acknowledges the dynamic interplay between data processing and privacy, striking a harmonious balance that acknowledges the transformative potential of data-driven services while ensuring that individuals’ personal data is treated with respect and responsibility.

As the bill navigates its path through legislative processes, it not only addresses the pressing concerns of the present but also lays the groundwork for India’s digital future. The careful considerations embedded within the bill signal a broader vision that extends beyond immediate challenges, towards a landscape where data protection becomes an inherent part of the digital fabric. The bill’s emphasis on clarity, accessibility, and inclusivity through the SARAL approach and gender recognition represents a forward-looking perspective, one that envisions an empowered society driven by progressive values.

3. Indian Vision 2047: Pioneering a Data-Driven Destiny

In the grand tapestry of India’s journey, the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill 2023 finds resonance with the broader Indian Vision 2047, a dream of India’s future characterized by prosperity, inclusivity, and technological prowess. As we inch closer to 2047, the nation envisions a harmonious blend of tradition and innovation, where technology and data serve as enablers, not disruptors, of societal progress.

The bill aligns seamlessly with this visionary trajectory. By providing a roadmap for data governance that places individual rights and accountability at the forefront, it propels India towards a future where data is not just a commodity, but a valuable asset that contributes to the collective growth. As India aims to become a global leader in emerging technologies, the bill’s emphasis on reasonable security measures and privacy-conscious practices will fortify its stance on the international stage.

4. A Multifaceted Approach: Navigating the Salient Features

The Digital Personal Data Protection Bill 2023 encompasses a spectrum of salient features that underscore its transformative potential:

– Balancing Act: Data Processing and Privacy Rights

At the heart of the bill lies a delicate equilibrium: the recognition of individuals’ rights to protect their personal data and the necessity of processing such data for legitimate purposes. By establishing obligations for Data Fiduciaries – the entities entrusted with data processing – the bill aims to ensure responsible data handling.

– Guardians of Privacy: Protecting Digital Personal Data

A cornerstone of the bill is the protection of digital personal data, referring to data that can identify an individual. This protection is realized through a matrix of measures, including the delineation of Data Fiduciaries’ obligations in data processing operations and the definition of rights and duties for Data Principals, ensuring a symmetrical approach to data management.

– Dissuasion through Financial Penalties

The bill institutes a mechanism of financial penalties for breaches of data rights, duties, and obligations. This proactive approach not only serves as a deterrent but also underscores the seriousness with which data security breaches are regarded.

The bill aligns seamlessly with this visionary trajectory. By providing a roadmap for data governance that places individual rights and accountability at the forefront, it propels India towards a future where data is not just a commodity, but a valuable asset that contributes to the collective growth.

5. Principles for the Digital Age: Safeguarding Data in a Rapidly Changing Landscape

To navigate the intricate dance between data processing and privacy, the bill is guided by seven foundational principles:

– Consented, Lawful, and Transparent Use of Personal Data

The principle of consent forms the bedrock of data processing under the bill. Personal data can only be processed with explicit and informed consent, ensuring transparency and empowerment for individuals.

– Purpose Limitation: Defining Data Usage Boundaries

The principle of purpose limitation emphasizes that data can only be used for the purpose specified at the time of obtaining the Data Principal’s consent. This mitigates the risk of data being used beyond its intended scope.

– Data Minimization: Collecting What’s Necessary

Data minimization emphasizes the collection of only the amount of personal data necessary to serve the specified purpose. This principle curtails data hoarding and promotes responsible data collection practices.

– Data Accuracy: Ensuring Precision and Reliability

Accurate data is vital for informed decision-making. The principle of data accuracy mandates that personal data must be correct, updated, and devoid of errors.

– Storage Limitation: Respecting Data Lifecycle

The principle of storage limitation advocates for the storage of data only as long as it is needed for the specified purpose. This safeguards against unnecessary retention of sensitive information.

– Reasonable Security Safeguards: Fortifying Data Protection

In an era of sophisticated cyber threats, the bill enshrines the principle of reasonable security safeguards, compelling Data Fiduciaries to implement robust security measures to prevent data breaches.

– Accountability: A Pillar of Data Governance

Accountability is a cornerstone of the bill, manifesting through mechanisms of adjudication for data breaches and penalties for non-compliance with its provisions. This ensures that entities remain accountable for their data management practices.

6. Innovative Legislative Approach: Navigating Complexity with Clarity

The Digital Personal Data Protection Bill 2023 introduces an innovative legislative approach that not only comprehensively addresses data security but also enhances accessibility and comprehension:

– SARAL Approach: Simplifying the Legal Lexicon

Embodying the spirit of simplicity, accessibility, rationality, and actionability, the SARAL approach forms the foundation of the bill. By employing plain language and illustrative examples, the bill bridges the gap between complex legal jargon and everyday understanding.

– Gender Inclusivity: Pioneering Recognition

Acknowledging the need for gender inclusivity, the bill pioneers the use of “she” in parliamentary law-making. This small yet significant change recognizes women’s representation and underscores the bill’s commitment to progressive ideals.

7. Empowering Individuals: Unveiling Rights for the Digital Era

Central to the bill’s narrative is the empowerment of individuals in the digital era. The bill grants individuals a series of rights that facilitate control over their personal data:

– Right to Access Information

The right to access information about processed personal data equips individuals with the ability to understand how their data is being used.

– Right to Correction and Erasure

The right to rectify and erase data ensures that individuals can rectify inaccuracies and, if necessary, have their data expunged.

– Right to Grievance Redressal

The bill prioritizes individual concerns by providing the right to address grievances related to data processing.

– Right to Nominate a Representative

Recognizing the practicalities of life, the bill grants individuals the right to designate a representative who can exercise their data rights in case of incapacitation or death.

8. Enforcement and Accountability: The Role of Data Fiduciaries

The bill entrusts Data Fiduciaries with significant responsibilities to ensure data protection:

– Ensuring Security Safeguards

Data Fiduciaries are mandated to institute security safeguards to avert data breaches, safeguarding the sanctity of personal data.

– Mandatory Reporting of Breaches

The bill requires Data Fiduciaries to promptly report personal data breaches to both affected individuals and the Data Protection Board. This timely reporting facilitates swift action in the event of a breach.

– Erasure of Data

Ensuring that data isn’t held indefinitely, Data Fiduciaries are required to delete personal data once it is no longer necessary for the stated purpose.

9. Future Route: India’s Digital Resilience

Looking ahead, the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill 2023 lays the foundation for a resilient digital landscape. It recognizes that data-driven progress is not an end in itself, but a means to enhance citizens’ lives, facilitate business innovation, and strengthen the nation’s position in the global arena. With a holistic approach encompassing rights, obligations, principles, and innovative measures, the bill charts a course that propels India towards a data-savvy future.

As we envision India in 2047, a nation that has harnessed the power of data without compromising on ethics and privacy emerges. Through a judicious balance of rights and responsibilities, the bill empowers citizens, safeguards sensitive information, and fosters a culture of data respect. This culture, in turn, nurtures an environment where startups flourish, research thrives, and citizens confidently participate in the digital economy.

In embracing the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill 2023, India not only lays a sturdy foundation for data protection but also champions a broader narrative of trust, transparency, and technological progress. By weaving together the strands of individual rights, innovation, and responsible data handling, India’s digital destiny is poised to flourish, embodying the principles of the bill and the aspirations of Indian Vision 2047.

As we envision India in 2047, a nation that has harnessed the power of data without compromising on ethics and privacy emerges.

10. Challenges and Issues

While the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill 2023 presents a forward-thinking and comprehensive approach to data security and privacy, its successful implementation is not without its challenges. As India endeavors to navigate the complexities of the digital landscape, several issues must be addressed to ensure that the bill’s transformative vision is realized effectively.

– Balancing Innovation and Regulation

The rapid pace of technological innovation often outpaces regulatory frameworks. Striking the right balance between encouraging innovation and safeguarding data privacy requires constant vigilance. Regulatory measures must be adaptable enough to accommodate emerging technologies while maintaining the integrity of personal data.

– Data Localization vs. Cross-Border Flow

The bill raises a crucial dilemma surrounding data localization. While localized data storage can enhance security, it might hinder the seamless flow of data across borders, impacting global business operations. Striking a balance between safeguarding data and facilitating international trade remains a challenge.

– Compliance Complexity

With a diverse range of entities falling under the purview of the bill, ensuring uniform compliance across industries of varying sizes and complexities can be challenging. Smaller enterprises might struggle to meet the same standards as larger corporations, leading to potential disparities in data protection.

– Technological Adaptation

Implementing robust security measures and adopting data protection practices require technological readiness. Smaller businesses and organizations might face challenges in acquiring the necessary technology and expertise to comply with the bill’s security mandates.

– Data Breach Preparedness

The bill’s emphasis on mandatory reporting of data breaches highlights the importance of preparedness in the face of cyber threats. However, not all entities possess the resources to swiftly detect and respond to breaches, potentially leading to delayed reporting and exacerbating the consequences.

– Strain on Resources

For sectors such as healthcare, which handle sensitive patient data, ensuring data protection can place additional strain on already resource-constrained institutions. The bill’s obligations might necessitate significant financial investments, potentially affecting the quality and accessibility of healthcare services.

– Consent Management

The principle of informed consent forms the bedrock of the bill. However, managing consent in a way that is understandable and accessible to all individuals, regardless of their digital literacy, can be a challenge. Ensuring genuine informed consent in an increasingly complex digital landscape remains a concern.

– Regulatory Bottlenecks

The establishment of a regulatory authority, the Data Protection Board, is critical for the bill’s effective enforcement. However, challenges might arise in terms of the board’s capacity, resources, and expertise, potentially leading to delays in addressing complaints and breaches.

– International Cooperation

Data flows transcend national boundaries, requiring international cooperation to effectively address data protection concerns. Harmonizing India’s data protection regulations with international standards while respecting its sovereignty poses a complex challenge.

– Ongoing Technological Evolution

Technology continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace, constantly reshaping the digital landscape. The bill must remain flexible enough to accommodate future advancements, ensuring that it remains relevant and effective in addressing new challenges.

11. Navigating the Path Ahead

The exponential growth of digital technology has fundamentally altered the way we interact, communicate, and conduct business. As data flows through interconnected networks, a new paradigm of opportunities has emerged, presenting innovations across sectors, including healthcare. The healthcare industry, a prime beneficiary of digitization, has witnessed the evolution of electronic health records, telemedicine, and AI-driven diagnostics, promising enhanced patient care and accessibility to medical services.

However, this rapid digital transformation brings to the forefront a critical challenge: the security and privacy of personal data. As healthcare services become increasingly digitized, sensitive patient information, once stored in traditional medical files, is now housed in digital databases. The potential for unauthorized access, data breaches, and misuse of personal information has escalated, necessitating a comprehensive legislative response.

“Composed by: Dr. Rajeev Kumar is currently working as an Assistant Professor in the Centre for Innovation and Technology at the Administrative Staff College of India, Hyderabad, Telangana, India.”

“Dr. Satyanarayana V. Nandury Adviser is currently working as an Adviser in the Centre for Innovation and Technology at the Administrative Staff College of India, Hyderabad, Telangana, India.”

“Prof. Raees Ahmad Khan is currently working as a Professor in the Department of Information Technology at the Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (A Central University), Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.”

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Business Models of Successful IOMT in India and Challenges

The IoT healthcare business strategy is not yet robust because it involves a set of elements with new requirements such as new operational processes and policies, new infrastructure systems, distributed target customers and transformed organizational structures. Therefore, there is a need for a new business model. The IoT technology opens a new dimension of business opportunities for healthcare companies and the IoT platform becomes a key artifact in this transformation. Early movers who are taking a proactive approach to establishing their IoT healthcare ecosystem will tap into new business models. In this part of the business model, the panel discussed the basis of pricing and the way of charging for a product or service. Besides this, the panel also discussed the ways of revenue generation.

While there are many benefits of the Internet of things in healthcare, it isn’t without its challenges. As with any new technology in healthcare, hospital and IT executives are concerned about data security and IoT device management. What are the potential barriers to IoT adoption and how healthcare IT can overcome those obstacles?

AI and IoT change the way healthcare is delivered and we obviously are on the cusp of a revolution. This definitely poses a fair amount of concerns but also huge possibilities. The panel also discussed how Medicare is 100th the cost per person when compared to Obama care. So clearly, there must be more innovations coming from IoT and AI; they are going to help us reduce the cost.

In the past, how people tried to use the data for the benefit of both patients and providers, starting from the patient side faced huge failures, as nobody was willing to pay. And that’s where the thinking came from that; how do we really make this work? How do we really turn this data into a business model? And that’s where they pivoted the model, working with providers and using their data sets. But then the question comes up, “Why the providers would share their data?”. Thus, the first pitching that started was to use the provider’s data for their patient care. And it didn’t work well. The whole narrative was, “What’s in it for providers?”.Therefore, the business model turned out to be, as we kept on talking to people, we realized that the data is going to be useful for provider’s revenue success, and then the same datasets will help the patients. A solution that they projected is to help retain the provider with patients’ data, grow their revenues and help in patient care.

The MedTech certainly seems more complex. Where they are trying to come out with a dermatology solution and oral health solution for serious diseases where a cell phone image taken from an off the shelf mobile phone camera is sent to an AI backend and it gives a diagnosis and possible treatment options for a variety of skin diseases, particularly oral cancer. Such cases are very prevalent. What the panelist found is a landscape extremely complex in terms of the business model because when someone comes out with something like this, then figuring out who would it be paying is difficult. And suddenly the AI and IoT thing comes up and say that it can perform this diagnosis at par the level and in certain cases better than certain trained specialists. This does not support their case.

One of the panelists shared her thoughts on important factors to concentrate and realize why health care has not moved digitally as compared to other industries like banking, insurance and how a lot of digital interventions can happen in healthcare. There are a whole lot of opportunities.

The main thing to focus on is What is the problem? What is the solution? And who’s going to pay you? Because that’s where the panelists believe that lots of startups have a scope.

The customer is one, the doctor is another and hospital, the other spectrum. So how to manage this change and address the change management. If you give a thought on what to overcome, it gives you a kind of value that you try and achieve success and how do we overcome the quality assurance issues, change issues, challenges that one sees in terms of adoption. Let’s say for the doctors, it took a hundred years to the doctor to adopt stethoscope. Today, it’s widely accepted. IoMT is something that is obviously very innovative, very useful. But then not every doctor will accept it right away. How does one plan to overcome that barrier? So, they might just want one to focus on change management issues.

There are three components of the IT embedment in a hospital. One is the business side of it, which gets adopted immediately. There’s just no resistance to it. The second side is the paramedical side of it; it has pathology, radiology, and other such things. They take a little time but they come on board. The learning curve is much shorter over there. The third one is the clinical side, which is the most difficult, as in a hospital system there are doctors who are most resistant to changes and the reason being their upbringing and learning of clinical practices in a certain way.

The question arises “How does one change their practices?” Changed management is already happening at the college level. The medical students who are coming out now are more hands-on and are accepting the new technological changes. We will have to wait a little while, but they will accept it. When we talk about a change in the management, the problem that arises is not specific to India only. In the USA, George Bush had said that he wanted EMR to be adopted by everyone within the next ten years. Surprisingly, he didn’t even get 15% conversion in those ten years.

It is important to secure the data and look over the cost implications of data security issues in connected health work moving forward. There is a need for appropriate interventions at the transition level of doctors and patients, as well as the importance of advocacy and awareness‐raising at community level about connected health. There is also a need for financial support for encouraging the tech enthusiasts of the country to address health issues in India with connected health solutions. One needs to understand customer value as well. How do we speak the right language in terms of what would appeal to that particular user or customer or doctor or hospital for that matter only then we will see more IoMT adoption happening. Yes, there is a need to understand the regulatory framework. Startups needs to adopt a lean structure in collaboration with the medical partners and come up with innovative solutions. India has a fantastic opportunity, but clearly it does need elements to come together and work together.

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The act:

The Act mandates the clinical establishments to secure the digital health data and defines functions of the new regulatory bodies at the center and state level except the State of Jammu and Kashmir. Clinical establishments here means, any hospital, clinic, dispensary, etc., be it public or private.

Setup:

National Electronic Health Authority (NEHA) and State Electronic Health Authority (SEHA) will be setup as the governing bodies to formulate standards, operational guidelines  and protocols for the generation, collection, storage and transmission of the digital health data for this Act. It will also ensure data protection and prevent breach  or theft of digital health data. It will establish data security measures for all stages of generation, collection, storage and transmission of digital health data, which will at least  include access controls, encrypting and audit trails.

Digital Health Data:

Digital health data comprises of one’s physical or mental health condition, sexual orientation, use of narcotic or psychotropic substances, consumption of alcohol, sexual practices, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) status, Sexually Transmitted Infections treatment, and abortion etc;

The required health data can be obtained by consent from the owner, thus informing them the purpose of collection, identity of the recipients to whom the health data may be transmitted or disclosed, identity of the recipients who may have access to the data on a “need to know” basis.

Major points:

As per the draft, the owners have the right to privacy, confidentiality, and security of their digital health data and the right to give or refuse consent for generation and collection of such data.

The Act also lists down factors affecting data transmission as to who can transmit, how they can transmit and monitoring data transmission. The Act further lists down the guidelines on accessing this data, with regards to who can access, how they can access and purpose of data access by various entities.

Penalties in contravention of serious breach of healthcare data shall be punishable with imprisonment, which shall extend from three to five years; or fine, which shall not be less than five lakh of rupees.

There are many debatable points that arise from this Act such as the technical measures a clinical establishment should take, standardization of data security, measures to be taken in times of breach, training and capacity building of the clinical establishment, best practices of data collection and storages.

The clinical establishments might be worried on implementing the Act, as they might lack the technical resources to bring the robust solutions. On the other hand the security industry in the country might be looking to engage clinical establishments and respond to this situation by providing cost effective solutions and safeguarding  the privacy of the patient.

To implement the Act, clinical establishment might need hand holding. However, we appreciate the efforts of the government to propose this Act and safeguard the interest of patients and citizens.

Would you be interested in joining a workshop on discussing, opportunities and challenges in implementing DISHA, send us your interest on info@innovatiocuris.com

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