India Reduces Digital Health Budget Amid Healthcare Spending Increase

Healthcare Budget Sees Overall Rise

The Indian government has announced its Union Budget for 2024-2025, revealing a significant increase in overall healthcare spending. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman disclosed that the healthcare allocation has risen to Rs 90,958.63 crore ($10.8 billion), marking a nearly 13% increase from the previous year’s budget of Rs 80,517.62 crore ($9.6 billion).

Digital Health Initiatives Face Budget Cuts

Despite the overall increase in healthcare spending, two key digital health initiatives have seen reductions in their allocated budgets:

Ayushman Bharat Digital Health Mission

The Ayushman Bharat Digital Health Mission (ABDM), which aims to create a digitally connected health ecosystem through electronic health records, has had its budget reduced. The allocation for ABDM has been set at Rs 200 crore ($24 million), down from Rs 341 crore ($40.7 million) in the previous year.

National Tele-Mental Health Programme

Similarly, the national tele-mental health programme has experienced a budget cut. The allocation for this initiative has decreased to Rs 90 crore ($10.7 million) from Rs 133.7 crore ($16 million) in the previous year.

Singapore’s NUCOHS Advances Digital Dentistry

In contrast to India’s budget cuts in digital health, Singapore is pushing forward with technological advancements in dental care. The National University Centre for Oral Health Singapore (NUCOHS) has unveiled plans to leverage digital technology to improve dental services.

Dental Imaging Repository

NUCOHS is developing a comprehensive dental imaging repository. This database will support the creation of new treatment plans and facilitate data-driven research in the field of dentistry.

AI Integration for Early Detection

The centre is also working on integrating artificial intelligence models with its electronic medical record (EMR) system. Associate Professor Patrick Tseng of NUCOHS explained the significance of this integration:

“AI will play an increasingly important role in our practice, and by integrating AI and innovative research, we ensure that patients receive the most precise, efficient and appropriate care. Additionally, we hope to use our expansive data to study links and impact of a patient’s systemic condition and the medications they are taking on dental disease progression and the prognosis of treatment.”

Philippines’ PhilHealth Launches Digital Platform

In the Philippines, the state health insurer Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) has taken steps to modernize its systems following a cybersecurity incident last year.

ePhilHealth Platform

PhilHealth has launched the ePhilHealth platform, which streamlines access to various services, including the outpatient benefits programme, eKonsulta. This move aims to enhance user experience and improve service delivery.

Integration with National Systems

The new platform is integrated with the eGovernment Data Exchange Platform, allowing members to access their profiles, contributions, and claims history through the eGovPH super app. Additionally, PhilHealth has integrated its system with the Philippine National ID system, further streamlining services for its members.

These digital advancements come in the wake of a Medusa ransomware attack that affected PhilHealth last year, exposing the data of approximately 13 million members. The shift to more secure digital infrastructure demonstrates PhilHealth’s commitment to enhancing both service delivery and data security for its members.