A draft Health Data Retention Policy was proposed by the National Health Authority (NHA) through a consultation paper released on November 23. This draft policy, which is open for consultation until December 24, lays down provisions for retention of data, different types of classification for the retained data, and gives suggestions on the mode of data retention and exchange. The paper essentially irons out the Health Data Management Policy (HDMP), notified earlier this year, under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM). The NHA had said that a number of clauses in the HDMP will be implemented based on specific data retention policies to be notified from time to time. Health data is classified as sensitive personal information under the Information Technology Act. The NHA cites user concerns on data security and the healthcare ecosystem's need for reliable, long-term data as reasons for such a policy. Comments on the consultation paper can be submitted through the form on the NDHM’s website or via email to abdm@nha.gov.in. You can read the full paper here. How will the draft policy be implemented? Two approaches are suggested for policy implementation - i) Covering the entire health ecosystem: This would include healthcare providers and entities who may have opted out of the National Digital Health Ecosystem (NDHE). The entities would include insurance providers, third-party administrators (TPA) offering individual and group insurance schemes, providers of open API systems, private PHR apps, teleconsultation platforms, data processors, etc, the draft policy says. ii) Covering only healthcare providers under ABDM Advantages and…
