Delhi government plans to issue e-Health Cards to residents by next year

Arvind Kejriwal, the Chief Minister of Delhi, directed the Health Department on Friday to distribute e-Health Cards ahead of the deployment of the Health Information Management System (HIMS), which is set to commence in March 2023.

Kejriwal presided over a high-level meeting to examine the Health Information Management System (HIMS) and e-Health Card Project’s development.

The e-health card will be a QR-coded card that will identify and track each patient’s demographic and basic clinical information. Residents of Delhi will be mapped for all qualifying programmes and those using the card, and the health card will be connected with the Health Information Management System for efficient information sharing.

It was resolved at the meeting that, in addition to the implementation of HIMS in the year 2023, every Delhiite will also be provided a health card, said the Chief Minister’s Office in a statement.

The Chief Minister has directed that the e-Health Cards be distributed at least three months before the HIMS system is launched. According to the announcement, it is planned to commence in March 2023.

“The Health Information Administration System intends to revolutionise state healthcare management by bringing it up to global standards.” A project of this magnitude and calibre has never been undertaken in India.

Notably, the e-Health Cards will be the first of their type in the country, with all of the patient’s medical information kept in the cloud, “it stated.

Along with the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and Health Minister Satyendar Jain, as well as senior officials from the relevant departments, were present at the meeting.