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AlgoBharat and Lok Swasthya SEWA to Revolutionize Healthcare Access with Blockchain
AlgoBharat, the Indian initiative of the Algorand Foundation, has announced a major partnership with Lok Swasthya SEWA to develop a Digital Health Passport. This collaboration aims to provide a secure and immutable registry of verified credentials, enabling more efficient access to essential health benefits and social safety net programs for users. The partnership, formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), outlines a blockchain-based solution designed to meet these goals.
Improving community health services
The implementation of the Digital Health Passport will enable SEWA’s large network of community-based health centers, known as SEWA Shakti Kendras (SSKs), to scale and customize their services to meet the unique needs of each household. Currently, each SSK provides critical health information, manually collects and validates documents to access entitlements, and consolidates individual-level data into spreadsheets for nearly 34,000 households and 200,000 individuals. The new system will minimize manual errors and keep each woman’s information secure, while adhering to India’s Personally Identifiable Information regulations. Additionally, blockchain security features will ensure that SEWA members maintain control over their identities, safeguarding their data from unauthorized access and tampering.
Lok Swasthya SEWA is expected to benefit from a macro view of the demographic details of its growing population, enabling it to effectively target services to informal women workers and their families. This advancement will significantly improve the organization’s ability to provide customized social protection and health programs.
Addressing the challenges of health coverage
India has made significant progress towards universal health coverage through initiatives such as the Ayushman Bharat program, which includes the Digital Health Mission, the establishment of numerous health and wellness centers, and the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) health insurance program. Despite this progress, awareness of and access to these programs remains challenging for millions of people in India’s informal workforce. Women in the informal economy face significant barriers in obtaining and safeguarding their documents, which can prevent them from accessing care.
The Digital Health Passport will enable SEWA Shakti Kendras to leverage their strong position in the community to quickly enroll members in essential health and social protection programs. This will help women stay healthy, continue to work and earn a living.
Leaders’ insights on partnership
Mirai Chatterjee, Director of SEWA Social Security, expressed optimism about the collaboration, noting that it would encourage women workers to take a more active role in their healthcare journey. By providing secure access to their records, the initiative aims to improve health outcomes and foster a sense of belonging and security that can lead to economic empowerment and self-sufficiency.
Anil Kakani, Vice President and India Country Head at Algorand Foundation, highlighted the challenges faced by India’s large informal workforce in accessing government healthcare programs. He noted that these programs are critical in helping informal women workers stay healthy and continue working. Kakani said it was a privilege for Algorand to partner with Lok Swasthya SEWA to provide a blockchain solution to improve healthcare access and outcomes for working women and their families. This collaboration highlights the power of blockchain in creating a more inclusive economy and aligns with the vision of SEWA founder Ela ben Bhatt.
Blockchain Application in Real World
The Digital Health Passport, powered by the Algorand blockchain, will ensure tamper-proof storage and easy retrieval of critical health documents and data. This will enable women to effectively manage their health information, no matter which healthcare facility they visit. The collaboration between AlgoBharat and Lok Swasthya SEWA shows a powerful real-world application of blockchain technology, highlighting its potential to revolutionize healthcare access and outcomes.
In summary, the partnership between AlgoBharat and Lok Swasthya SEWA aims to transform healthcare diagnostics and outcomes by leveraging AI and blockchain technology. This innovative approach will not only improve diagnostic accuracy and efficiency but also ensure data security and drive innovation in the healthcare industry. With the upcoming Initial DEX Offering, ZayaAI is poised to expand its reach and impact, driving transformative changes in medical diagnostics and setting new standards for healthcare innovation.