Digital Public Goods 101
The unprecedented digitisation in public life in India is founded on collection of massively successful public goods. But these have critical gaps in social appropriateness
Digital public good |
1.2 billion biometric records |
36 crore daily transactions |
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Digital public good |
25Â crore linked health records |
8 largest banks |
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In the spotlight
The national digital health mission is an actively unfolding case study of the complexities public goods need to navigate. |
Healthcare is a state subject. The push for digitisation in the healthcare sector is centre-led. This is problematic for a number of reasons:
- Health ID based access using a centralized protocol vulnerable to breaches/abuse in the absence of (binding) laws that regulate data analysis and processing.
- Any health intervention needs buy-in from the grassroots level (regulated by the states) and trust from different communities in order to succeed.
- Consent-based approach presents a false choice. Possibilities of exclusion or difficulties in accessing healthcare.
Some of these fears have already been vindicated:
30 to 40 million individuals’ data compromised in ransomware attack
It is particularly revealing to examine cases where consent is supposedly collected: is the consent meaningful or false?
The National Health Authority has announced that participation in the creation of digital health IDs is completely optional. BUT:
AIIMS-Delhi, which sees a footfall of 15-18k a day and long delays, has made access to care easier if patient registers for ABHA IDs1.
Is a citizen with an urgent health need really in a position to opt-out? |
The use of the Co-WIN app is formally optional. But everyday life often requires it. 40% of all ABHA IDs originate from Co-WIN2.
Can a citizen who needs to install the application to receive the vaccine really consent? |