PM announces India ’ s new digital health system
During digital tourism address , Modi redoubles efforts to attract more health visitors
Air travel body endorses EU ’ s digital passport for use around the world
IATA has encouraged all nations to use established digital COVID certificate
In a move that suggests the world is getting closer to restoring global travel , the International Air Transport Association ( IATA ) recently urged countries to make the EU Digital COVID Certificate ( DCC ) their global standard for digital vaccine certificates .
The 27 EU member states are currently using the certificate , and a further 60 countries are looking to adopt its specification in their own certification .
“ The Digital COVID Certificate was delivered in record time to help facilitate the reopening of EU states to travel . In the absence of a single global standard for digital vaccine certificates , it should serve as a blueprint for other nations looking to implement digital vaccination certificates to help facilitate travel and its associated economic benefits ,” said Conrad Clifford , IATA ’ s deputy director general , in a statement .
The EU certificate meets several key criteria that have been identified as important if a digital vaccination certificate is to be effective , including a flexible format that can be made available in either hard or soft copy form .
Another includes making use of a QR code , which the EU approach uses in both digital and paper formats . It contains essential information as well as a digital signature to ensure the certificate is authentic .
In addition , the EU certificate enables verification and authentication , since the European Commission has built a gateway through which the encrypted data used to sign DCCs and authenticate certificate signatures can be distributed across the EU .
The gateway can be also used to distribute encrypted data of non-EU certificate issuers to other issuers . The EU has also developed a specification for machine readable validation rules for cross-country travel .
India ’ s prime minister , Narendra Modi , has launched a programme to connect the digital health solutions of hospitals across the country with each other .
Called the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission , it will not only simplify the processes for hospitals but also increase ease of use , said Modi during a digital address to mark World Tourism Day on September 27 .
The initiative ’ s digital ecosystem will enable a range of activities , including digital consultations and enabling patients to give medical practitioners permission to access their records .
The prime minister stated that the nation was entering a new phase after seven years of efforts to strengthen its health facilities .
“ The Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission will play a big role in eliminating problems in medical treatment of the poor and middle class . Through technology , work done by Ayushman Bharat to connect patients with hospitals across the nation is being further expanded and given a strong technology platform ,” he said .
Modi used the address to the nation to highlight the importance of having good health facilities in the country as a means to raise tourist numbers , both for pleasure and for treatment .
He stated that the emergence of COVID-19 had led to countries ’ health infrastructure to be considered the top priority for travellers when planning a trip . He added that India had a strong medical and health foundation that was respected across the world .
“ Moreover , Ayushman Bharat will align with the digital mission with the help of advanced technology so that people from around the globe will be able to take consultations from our skilled doctors .”
38 OCTOBER 2021 GlobalHealthAsiaPacific . com