The pilot phase of National Digital Health Mission (NDHM) is active in 6 UTs (Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh, Dadra Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, Ladakh, Lakshadweep and Puducherry). As on 21st January 2021, 6,30,478 Health IDs have been generated in the above mentioned 6 UTs.

The selection of vendors for NDHM is compliant with various applicable rules and policies of Government of India.

The data is stored in a federated architecture as described in the National Digital Health Blueprint released by the Government of India in 2019. There is no centralized database of medical records. However, NDHM enables appropriate use of the health data of each individual for his/her own healthcare with his/her consent only.

Therefore, there is no violation of privacy of Indian citizens.

The Government gives highest priority to data security and privacy. It is inbuilt in the design of NDHM. All applicable laws, rules and judgments of Hon’ble Supreme Court are being followed. Health Data Management Policy has also been approved. Apart from various legal provisions, all technical solutions possible to ensure data privacy and security are being put in place. As mentioned in the National Digital Health Blueprint (NDHB), the guiding document for NDHM implementation, use of secure health networks and government community cloud infrastructure, as defined by MeitY, is being used for hosting of data. All events on this cloud infrastructure would be under 24x7 surveillance to ensure highly secure environment.

One of the key aspects of information security framework under NDHM highlights Privacy by Design as one of the key guiding principles. It aims to ensure that health data and its transfer are always compliant and adhere to all privacy requirements. All the building blocks that require handling personal health records are being designed to comply with such policy ab‐initio.

Further, medical records are made available to anyone only with the consent of the individual or his/her nominee.

The Minister of State (Health and Family Welfare), Sh Ashwini Kumar Choubey stated this in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha here today.

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MV/SJ