New Delhi- Dr. VK Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog, inaugurated a National Conference on "Universal Access to Healthcare: Digital Solutions" in New Delhi, emphasizing the critical need for a robust primary healthcare system to reduce future healthcare burdens. The conference, organized by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in collaboration with the Sankala Foundation, brought together healthcare experts, government officials, and innovators to discuss digital solutions for universal healthcare, especially for rural and remote areas.

Dr. Paul outlined five key principles for digital health solutions, including scalability, inclusivity, and ensuring that digital innovations enhance the quality of life without deepening the digital divide. He stressed that these solutions should also protect human rights and promote ease of living.

Union Health Secretary Apurva Chandra highlighted the success of India's CoWIN and Aarogya Setu platforms, which played a significant role in delivering over 220 crore vaccinations. He announced the upcoming launch of the U-Win portal, aimed at maintaining digital records of vaccinations for pregnant women and children. Chandra also emphasized ongoing efforts to integrate various healthcare portals into a single platform under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission.

Bharat Lal, Secretary General of NHRC, emphasized that healthcare is a basic human right and underscored the potential of digital technologies to achieve universal healthcare. The conference featured discussions on healthcare models, future digital health frontiers, and technology-enabled universal health coverage, with participation from prominent figures in the healthcare and tech sectors.