Government set to bring out e-health legislation

NEW DELHI: The government will bring out a e-health legislation which will have "comprehensive" remedies, including civil and criminal measures for data breach, the Lok Sabha was informed today.

"Yes. Ministry (Health) has decided to bring out a legislation regarding electronic health, data, privacy and security," said Minister of State for Health Anupriya Patel in a written reply.

She said that the proposed legislation will broadly cover aspects including comprehensive legal framework to protect e-health' data for an individual, ownership of e-health data, legal framework for health data standardisation in collection, storage, exchange and others.

The legislation will also have "comprehensive remedies (civil and criminal) for data breach and enforcing nodal body," the Minister said.

Admitting that the legislation will have provisions for action against any breach of data of patients, the Minister said that the proposed legislation is still being draft.

"The proposed legislation is still being drafted and action against any breach of electronic data of the patients are yet to be finalised," the Minister said.

Replying to another question, Minister of State for Health Faggan Singh Kulaste said that the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved upgradation of 71 government medical colleges and institutes in different phases under Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojna.