Context: 

The National Health Authority (NHA) announced the extension of its Digital Health Incentives Scheme (DHIS) till the 31st of December 2023.

What is the Digital Health Incentives Scheme?

About:

• Under the Digital Health Incentives Scheme (DHIS), hospitals, diagnostic labs, and digital health solution providers are incentivized to embrace transformative digitization practices.
• The scheme operates with the goal of fostering a digitally inclusive healthcare ecosystem that aligns with the larger vision of Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission.

Eligibility:

• Health facilities (hospitals, diagnostic labs) and registered Digital Solution Companies (DSCs) under ABDM’s Health Facility Registry (HFR) are eligible to participate in the scheme.

Incentive Calculation:

• The financial incentives are based on the number of digital health records created and linked to Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) numbers of patients.

Achievements:

• Incentive Recipients: As of June 2023, a total of 1205 health facilities have registered under the DHIS, including 567 public and 638 private hospitals, clinics, and diagnostic labs.
• Digital Solution Companies: Among the 25 registered digital solution companies, 22 are from the private sector, demonstrating diverse participation.

What is Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission?

About:

• The Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) is a national initiative that aims to develop the digital health infrastructure of the country. It was launched in September, 2021.
  • Ayushman Bharat is a flagship scheme of India which was launched as recommended by the National Health Policy 2017, to achieve the vision of Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

Objective:

• It aims to provide digital health IDs for all Indian citizens to help hospitals, insurance firms, and citizens access health records electronically when required.
  • The National Health Authority (NHA) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is the implementing Agency.

Unified Health Interface (UHI):

• Under ABDM, UHI is envisioned as an open protocol for various digital health services. UHI Network is an open network of End User Applications (EUAs) and participating Health Service Provider (HSP) applications.
  • UHI enables a wide variety of digital health services between patients and health service providers (HSPs) including appointment booking, teleconsultation, service discovery and others.

Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission Sandbox:

• The Sandbox, established under the mission, serves as a platform for testing technology and products.
  • It aids organizations, including private entities, in becoming Health Information Providers or Users.

Benefits of the scheme:

• Earn incentives for Digitization: Reimburse the expenses incurred for digitization to all the participating healthcare facilities, Digital Solution Companies.
• Efficiency in Healthcare Delivery: Seamless access to patient’s longitudinal health records; Removes hassles in the healthcare process (registration, appointment, consultation, IPD admission, discharge, etc.)
• Building a Robust Digital Health Ecosystem: Building a robust digital health ecosystem across different levels of healthcare facilities.
• Improved Quality of Care: Evidence based, accessible, and good quality care. Patient’s ease of access to digitized health records and improved healthcare delivery.

What is the National Health Authority (NHA)?

• It is the apex body responsible for implementing AB PM-JAY. 
• It has been entrusted with the role of designing strategy, building technological infrastructure and implementation of “National Digital Health Mission ” to create a National Digital Health Eco-system.
• It is the successor of the National Health Agency, which has been functioning as a registered society since 2018. Pursuant to Cabinet decision for full functional autonomy, National Health Agency was reconstituted as the National Health Authority in January 2019.

Structure:

• An attached office of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare with full functional autonomy, NHA is governed by a Governing Board chaired by the Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare.
• It is headed by a Chief Executive Officer (CEO), an officer of the rank of Secretary to the Government of India, who manages its affairs. 
• The CEO is the Ex-Office Member Secretary of the Governing Board.
• To implement the scheme at the State level, State Health Agencies (SHAs) in the form of a society/trust have been set up by respective States.

FAQs about Digital Health Incentives Scheme

Read also:- Ayushman Bharat Scheme