No privacy concerns with health ID, patient consent must: R S Sharma

"The health ID will become popular not because it is compulsory or not but because it will offer huge facilities. The systems will be interoperable", says Sharma

With the launch of the digital health ID, the government is set to roll out the digital health programme of Ayushman Bharat across the country. In a conversation with Nivedita Mookerji and Ruchika Chitravanshi, R S Sharma, chief executive officer of the National Health Authority, says there is no privacy concern with the digital health ID and the consent of patients gives them full control over their data. Edited excerpts:

The prime minister has launched the digital health ID. What is the journey like from here?

The decks have been cleared for the roll-out in the entire country after the