Navigating India's Digital Health: Unveiling Progress, Challenges, and Prospects

Abstract

The computerization of healthcare records started in the 1960s and later evolved into "digital health." In India, the momentum gained from the success of digital health initiatives led to the launch of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission. It aimed to overcome systemic barriers by acting as a single source of truth. Since its inception, the mission has achieved notable progress due to various government initiatives to expedite the implementation; however, challenges like limited saturation, low healthcare provider adoption etc still persist. User-driven, need-based targeted efforts are essential for improving digital literacy, providing affordable devices, strengthening data security measures, and building capacity to improve the overall output, outcome, and impact on health service delivery. This article has attempted to depict the journey of digital health in India while highlighting achievements, challenges, and anticipated opportunities like AI, IoT, and blockchain technology in the Indian digital health sector. Through synthesis of information from various sources, this article aims to contribute to the discourse on digital health in India, offering insights that may inform policy decisions.