Delhi reveals $19m digital info management project for hospitals

It also announces the addition of nearly 7,000 new beds, which will all be available in mid-2022.

The Delhi government announced a $19m (Rs 139 crore) healthcare management digitisation project to connect all hospitals in the national capital territory under one digital platform. The cabinet has approved the project and the funding to set up a health information management system (HIMS), with the contract awarded to NEC Corporation India Private Limited.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said, “All hospitals in Delhi are being connected on a common platform and a portal will inform how many beds are empty in which hospital, which medicines are available in what quantity. You will know staff position, medical position, how many ventilators are vacant. You won’t need to form long lines at hospitals, you can fix an appointment with doctors over the phone and go according to your convenience.”

A government statement says all patient care-related services, such as hospital administration, budgeting, and planning, supply chain management, and back-end services will be included in the system. QR code-based health cards will be issued to Delhi citizens and will be made available online. Voter ID, demographics from the population registry, basic clinical information, and family mapping will be integrated into the HIMS for seamless exchange.

Surveys and distribution of the cards will be done through a door-to-door campaign. The system is expected to be launched in mid-2022.

Kejriwal also announced the cabinet's approval of setting up 6,836 new beds in all Delhi government hospitals.

According to Kejriwal, “This is a 70% increase. This is not a small thing. These will be ready in six months. We can be prepared for the third wave [of COVID-19 cases] if it comes. Even if it doesn’t, these will be ready for the people of Delhi.”