New Delhi: Dr V K Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog, inaugurated a National Conference on “Universal Access to Healthcare: Digital Solutions” in New Delhi. He highlighted the importance of a strong primary healthcare system in reducing the healthcare burden in later ages and emphasized the steps being taken to strengthen this network.
The day-long conference, organized by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in collaboration with the Sankala Foundation and supported by the NITI Aayog and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare,
Dr Paul also outlined five key principles for digital health solutions to embrace, including the use of digital technologies for saturation, creating new technologies in a way that does not increase the digital divide, ensuring solutions are within the ambit of rights and inclusivity, promoting ease of living, and enhancing the quality of life.
He further said that the digital transformation of the healthcare sector will help in providing universal healthcare services to all the people of the country. The government’s efforts to promote digital health solutions are focused on five key principles, including ensuring universal access to affordable and quality healthcare services, especially for those living in rural, remote, and hilly areas.
Apurva Chandra, Union Health Secretary, spoke about the national digital mission’s goal to expand healthcare services and reduce the gap between rural and urban areas. He highlighted the success of CoWIN and Aarogya Setu, which facilitated over 220 crore vaccinations nationwide and the Union Government’s aims to replicate this model through the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, a key government initiative.