By Abhishek Bhatia
New Delhi: Amid much prediction, speculation and scholarship, the Union Budget 2023–24 came out on wednesday. Although the finance minister Nirmala SitharamanThe speech in Parliament did not include enough references to medical care, some of the advertisements about artificial intelligence (AI), governance dataand 5G Policy Decisions have raised many eyebrows. The experts who spoke to ET Healthworld shared multiple views, but one key takeaway that emerged was that these steps can potentially transform the way the healthcare industry works on many different levels.
As previously anticipated by experts, the government has increased funding for two major schemes that are under Indian control. digital health infrastructural ambitions. There has been a considerable increase in allocations to the National Digital Health Mission (NDHM). From around Rs 200 crore in 2022-23, this time around Rs 341 crore has been pumped into the country’s leading digital healthcare initiative. Pradhan Mantri-Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY)a cashless health insurance framework, also had a substantial increase in funding with an increase of 12.3 percent.
Although it illustrates it as a great opportunity to make Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission a one-stop solution for the healthcare needs of all Indian citizens, said Dr. Gaurav Arya, CEO of Health NERDS International OPC, “if the allocated resources are used well. For example, creating a database or digital registry of all cancer patients, sickle cell disease patients, and patients suffering from diabetes and cardiovascular disease and linking them to the nearest health facility could provide access to diagnosis and treatment and reduce the burden of these diseases worldwide. India.”
“Real-world data is vital to measure and demonstrate the impact of early diagnosis, timely treatment, and regular monitoring of such diseases at the national level. the proposal ‘National Data Governance Policy’ (NDGP) will greatly help academia and healthcare service providers to use anonymous data for decision making and action. These patient data, made publicly available, will be able to contribute to the development of innovative healthcare solutions in India, with applicability across the globe, making India a potential global leader in healthcare innovations. health,” added Dr. Arya.
Acknowledging the quote, Nandkishore Dhomne, CIO, Manipal Enterprises Pvt Ltd, said: “It is never 100 per cent and given the fact that the healthcare industry, we are a major player in the Indian economy. The National Data Governance Policy (NDGP), if implemented, will be the core of the digital mission for our country. This is an important milestone, I would say, for the nation. This will enable the secure exchange of information for various research and application development purposes.”
Praveen Bist, CIO, Amrita Hospitals, expressed his satisfaction with the commitment shown by the government towards healthcare, saying: “With a strong foundation and momentum from the economic stimulus, I think it will go a long way and is highly anticipated by healthcare. medical”. So I strongly believe that it will act as a catalyst, especially where public healthcare facilities are also getting a facelift, further challenging and driving advancements in healthcare, both from a technology and operational perspective.”
“This is an AI world, and having three AI hubs under the National Data Governance Policy is a significant discount. This wouldn’t be good enough for us, but this is a very good start. This AI-enabled system will help shape the digital mission. Furthermore, it is not just about providing information; AI will help improve the efficiency and quality of decision-making when it comes to delivering healthcare services,” Dhomne explained.
Vikram Thaploo, CEO of Apollo Telehealth, said: “The establishment of 100 new labs to develop applications using 5G services to take advantage of a new range of opportunities in healthcare is a much-needed move by the government. Furthermore, the creation of three centers of excellence for artificial intelligence to enable ‘Making AI for India’ and ‘Making AI work for India’ will undoubtedly boost India’s digital prowess. All these essential moves by the government towards healthcare infrastructure and a focus on a holistic approach to healthcare are seen as a testament to India’s commitment to building stronger healthcare systems in the country.”
Expressing his views on the budget, Dr. Shravan Subramanyam, Managing Director of Wipro GE HealthCare, said: “The technology-focused Union budget for 2023 comes at the perfect time as India accelerates the pace of the National Digital Health Mission. A renewed focus on technological advances: AI-based tele-ICU technology to help remotely monitor infected patients in hospital ICUs in non-metropolitan areas, the promise of 100 5G labs and the opening of new doors for ‘Make AI in India’, ‘Make AI for India’, will underscore the value of precision care. The way forward will require stronger public-private partnerships and increased digital penetration to bring healthcare to the farthest corners of the country.”
Dr. Subramanyam concluded, “The budget is inspired by envisioning India at 100.”
