India's National Health Authority has signed off the integration of DRiefcase, a mobile app for personal health records, with the Ayushman Bharat Digital Health Mission. 

DRiefcase positions itself as a "health locker" app where users can store and access their medical records. It also offers a Scan at Home service that digitises users' paper health records. Aside from a patient-facing app, it also offers the DRiefcase Connect, a practice management platform for doctors, polyclinics and small hospitals. 

The DRiefcase app is available on the Apple App and Google Play stores.

WHY IT MATTERS

First among personal health record platforms to enable ABDM, DRiefcase now allows its users to create their Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA), a state-recognised health ID, and to share their health data with healthcare providers with their consent. Users can also link their existing health records from DRiefcase to their ABHA.

THE LARGER TREND

DRiefcase's integration with ABDM followed last week's integration of EMR platform Docon with the same government system. Docon operates virtual clinics with an AI-powered patient health record management system. 

The creation of an ABHA, which was launched in 2020, is not mandatory in India. The system even has an opt-out option for those who have created their health ID. By end-2021, around 150 million people created their ABHAs. 

ON THE RECORD

"Digital technology will be the springboard for India’s leap into an integrated healthcare ecosystem that delivers better quality care, superior patient experience, faster insurance processing, and ultimately, universal health coverage. Approved for ABDM roll-out, we are cognisant of the trust placed not only in our technology but also our vision to bridge the information gap that is holding back the potential of our healthcare sector," DRiefcase Director and founder Sohit Kapoor said.