Thread by @internetfreedom

The #UnifiedHealthInterface, India's upcoming tele-medicine network by #NationalDigitalHealthMission is already in the works. But how does it play out in a country with an already deep digital divide?

We took a look. Follow this thread 👇🏽 1/n
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Health apps were already a thing before the pandemic, #COVID19 has simply increased its use. Telemedicine & e-consultations are more widely used than ever before.

Enter: the #NationalDigitalHealthMission (15 Aug '20), the Universal Health ID, and various other programmes. 2/n

There are multiple issues: with consent & confidentiality, data privacy and security, exclusion, and private sector access to healthcare data.

Plus, health IDs continue to be created for those who have received vaccine shots, generally w/o permission. 3/n

https://twitter.com/internetfreedom/status/1415586608036782080

So what is the #UnifiedHealthInterface? It's a network that aims to connect us with hospitals, doctors & health service providers.

Tele-consultations? Yes. Appointments? Yes.

Integrated with #Aadhar, UPI, e-Sign, Digilocker, and Jan Dhan Bank Accounts? Also yes. 4/n

Considering all the data the #UnifiedHealthInterface will collect, there are (of course) legitimate concerns about commodifying citizens' data, *especially* in the absence of a data protection law in India.

But! We have UHI-specific worries too. Keep reading 👇🏽 5/n

Firstly: there needs to be more diverse feedback, especially from public health groups & civil society members, as they can provide key insights + feedback from the citizens of India.

Then, there's the risk of private sector monopolies because more capital = more advantage. 6/n

And this is a big one: digital exclusion! In a country where the digital divide is more of a chasm than a crack, how many citizens will be fully able to navigate the UHI? Digital infrastructure & literacy must first be ramped up *before* we even consider these networks! 7/n

The #UHI pricing is created in such a way that it allows the creation of high prices for healthcare services via End User Application (i.e. the app you'll be using) charges in the process. We urge that this fee be capped for all financial services, at least in the beginning. 8/n

Finally, instead of using private players to develop this software (thus increasing costs for citizens), the government should consider developing the UHI gateway itself & charge Heath Service Providers + EUAs a fee for participating in the UHI, harmonised with the EUA fees. 9/n

This would also allow the government to implement comprehensive security and consent protocols for the #UnifiedHealthInterface, much needed if it is rolled out across India, and integrated with various other databases as planned.

Want to chat with us? 👇🏽
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