Implementation of EMR not made mandatory: Govt

The implementation of Electronic Medical Record (EMR) has "not" been made mandatory but the government is working with stakeholders for adoption of these EMR standards, Lok Sabha was informed today.
"EMR standards were notified by government in September 2013. These standards have not been made mandatory. The government is working with healthcare providers and other stakeholders for adoption of these standards," Union Health Minister J P Nadda said.
He said that all states and UTs have been advised to adopt EMR standards in all information and communication technology applications in healthcare, including in rural areas, and the standards, notified in September 2013, have not been updated.

Replying to another question, Nadda said that e-hospital portal services were launched in July this year and its objectives include availing OPD appointment services, integrating payment gateway for online payments and to facilitate patients in viewing their lab reports and check blood availability status in hospitals.
He said that the features of these services include online registration system, Android based mobile app on Google Play store, bi-lingual interface and dashboard showing daily reports.
He said that presently the services are available in AIIMS, RML hospital, Sports Injury Centre in New Delhi and National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences in Bengaluru.

He said that the government proposes to bring all government hospitals under the said portal in a phased manner.