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In a major development aimed at advancing digital health education across India, the National Health Authority (NHA) and Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This partnership represents a significant step towards embedding digital health into the medical education system and fostering a more connected, efficient healthcare ecosystem nationwide.
The MoU establishes a partnership where MUHS will provide its Digital Health Foundation Course (DHFC) to NHA and collaborate on creating additional digital health programmes. These initiatives are designed to support the nationwide rollout of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), which aims to create an interoperable digital health ecosystem, integrating hospitals, clinics, labs, pharmacies, and health insurers to enhance patient care, accessibility, and affordability across India.
Union Health Minister J P Nadda hailed the collaboration as a “significant milestone” in integrating digital health education into medical curricula. He opined that this partnership would enhance the skills of medical students and professionals while advancing the implementation of ABDM, ultimately improving access to quality healthcare for millions of Indians.
The Digital Health Foundation Course (DHFC), developed by MUHS with support from a foundation, is a cornerstone of this initiative. The course offers comprehensive training in digital health fundamentals, equipping doctors and healthcare providers with the necessary knowledge and skills to navigate and leverage digital technologies in their practice. Leading doctors and subject matter experts have carefully curated the curriculum of the DHFC to ensure it meets the needs of the healthcare sector.
The DHFC will be accessible to medical students, doctors, and healthcare professionals via platforms like Mission Karmayogi’s iGOT, offering Digital Health certification and continuing education credits. This ensures that healthcare professionals at all levels can effectively implement ABDM, supporting the digital transformation of India’s healthcare sector.
Deepti Gaur Mukerjee, CEO of the National Health Authority (NHA), highlighted the evolving nature of digital health and the critical need to build awareness and understanding among all stakeholders in the health ecosystem. She noted that the partnership with MUHS would play a transformative role in accelerating the adoption of digital health solutions across India. This collaboration ensures that future healthcare professionals are well-prepared to leverage these technologies for improved patient outcomes and more efficient healthcare delivery.
Lt Gen Madhuri Kanitkar (Retd), Vice-Chancellor of MUHS, was delighted that Maharashtra was the first state in India to introduce digital health education for all medical students. She emphasised the significance of this achievement and expressed her commitment to supporting NHA in the national rollout of these digital health initiatives. This pioneering effort by MUHS sets a precedent for other states and institutions to follow, marking a new era in medical education in India.
The broader goal of this collaboration between NHA and MUHS is to ensure that healthcare professionals are equipped to implement the ABDM and contribute to the ongoing digital transformation of India’s healthcare sector. As digital health becomes an increasingly important catalyst for change in healthcare, this partnership is set to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of healthcare education and delivery in India.
This initiative aligns with the vision of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), launched by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in September 2021, which seeks to create a robust digital health ecosystem through active collaboration between public and private sectors. Extensive training and awareness among healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, frontline workers, paramedics, and medical students, are essential to realising the full potential of Digital Health and ABDM. The partnership between NHA and MUHS is a crucial step toward achieving this vision, ensuring that India’s healthcare workforce is prepared for the digital future.
