Prime Minister Narendra Modi today praised India’s huge digital infrastructure, saying that “such connected infrastructure is nowhere else in the world.” In an online
event, PM Modi discussed the scope of the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) in the country and said there are over 800 million internet users and around 430 million bank accounts under Jan Dhan Yojana.
“From 'Rashan to Prashasan', UPI is touching the common man...With 118 crore mobile subscribers, about 80 crore internet users and over 43 crore 'Jan Dhan' bank
accounts, India has the world's largest digital infrastructure."
The event was organised for the launch of Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission which the Prime Minister called a “new and extraordinary phase.” PM Modi stated that this scheme
will primarily benefit the poor and the middle class by reducing all hurdles to medical treatment.
PM went on to say, "It would bring all stakeholders in the field of health on to a single platform and also assist a patient to connect with doctor who speaks the same language."
He also made an analogy between tourism and health care. “Today is also World Tourism Day. You're probably wondering what is the link between health and tourism. However, there
is. Tell me, will tourists like to visit a place that lacks emergency medical services?” he said.
Also Read: Indians to get unique digital health ID on Sept 27 under PMDHM, Click to see advantages
Last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared the launch of "a new campaign" called the “Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission” in his Independence Day speech.
Later, as a pilot project, it was launched in six Union territories- Andaman and Nicobar, Chandigarh, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu, Ladakh, Lakshadweep, and Puducherry.
A health identity card for every citizen, a healthcare professionals registry, and healthcare facility registries are the main components of this project, which is also known as the National Digital Health Mission or the PM Digital Health Mission.
The goal of this programme is to digitise healthcare throughout the country and to develop a national digital health ecosystem that will allow patients to keep, access and consent to share their health records with doctors and health facilities of their preference.