E D I T O R ’ S N O T E
Data protection critical for healthcare industry
Nearly six years after the Supreme Court held privacy to be a fundamental right , the central government has made a second attempt at framing legislation for protection of data . The Digital Personal Data Protection Bill , 2022 is expected to be tabled in Parliament ’ s monsoon session . The Union Cabinet has already approved the draft bill .
Let ’ s analyze how significant is this bill for healthcare stakeholders . One of the key aspect is its emphasis on obtaining explicit consent from individuals before collecting and processing their personal data , including health-related information . Healthcare organizations would need to clearly specify the purpose for which the data is being collected and ensure that it aligns with the individual ' s consent . Health data has been considered sensitive personal data under the bill . It includes information related to physical or mental health conditions , medical history , and biometric data . It imposes stricter obligations for the processing of sensitive personal data , requiring additional safeguards and consent . The bill also allows for the storage of personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purpose for which it was collected . Healthcare organizations would need to establish data retention policies that align with legal requirements and ensure secure disposal of data after its retention period expires .
While it may appear a bit complex and stringent to the organizations that are implementing it , the overall outcomes would be equally good for them . With good protection measures , they wouldn ’ t have to worry about the loss of reputation due to data breaches and ransomware threats . At the same time , it helps them fulfil their responsibility to protect the trust placed in them by millions of patients .
The Cover Story in this edition features top 10 bio-technologies to look for in 2023 . These technologies will play a great role in shaping the future of bio-medicine and healthcare . There is also much more to explore in this edition including the special stories on how is healthcare industry coping with the cyberattacks , and how a startup Augnito is using the power of AI for transforming healthcare . There are special interviews with highly promising CEOs in the AgriTech . Happy reading !
We look forward to your ideas and feedback . Have a great year ahead !
Yours ’ truly
RAHUL�KOUL
CHIEF EDITOR Write to me at rk @ biovoicenews . com
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