New Delhi: Delhi High Court has emphasised that integrating hospitals through digital platforms can significantly improve patient care and ensure faster treatment, especially during emergencies. It has directed authorities to make real-time information on bed availability and medical facilities across the city accessible to the public. In a recent order, a special bench of Justices Prathiba M Singh and Manmeet PS Arora noted that the govt’s NextGen e-Hospital platform has the potential to enable seamless sharing of patient data and treatment records across hospitals, aiding better diagnosis and continuity of care. The court also called for the rollout of a mobile application based on the system.
The bench asked the Delhi health secretary to ensure mandatory implementation of the NextGen e-Hospital platform for admissions, inpatient and outpatient services, and discharge processes across 38 enrolled hospitals. It further directed that all these govt hospitals fully utilise the platform and that efforts be made to bring private hospitals on board as well. The court was hearing matters taken up on its own motion regarding the strengthening of health infrastructure and access to emergency services in govt-run hospitals. During the hearing, the National Informatics Centre (NIC) made a presentation on the Hospital Management Information System (HMIS) and the progress in implementing digital modules across govt hospitals through the e-Hospital platform. “There can be no doubt that integrating hospitals and sharing data can greatly aid quick and effective treatment, especially when patients move from one hospital to another without all records. Subject to legally prescribed conditions, the sharing of data can also help doctors identify patterns and improve diagnosis,” the court observed, while stressing the need to include more Delhi hospitals on the platform.The bench highlighted the need for immediate, real-time information on the availability of beds in various departments across Delhi hospitals. It said this data must be easily accessible to patients, ambulance service providers, families and doctors. “Manual admissions and discharges are stated to be going on in parallel — perhaps due to lack of computers or staff training. Scaling up and expanding the platform is essential for real-time, reliable data,” it said. To speed up the launch of the mobile application, the court has issued notice to Google’s lawyer to assist with technical onboarding and directed the Delhi High Court’s IT officer to support the process. It has also ordered the health department to provide four additional technical personnel to NIC within a week to help with development. While acknowledging the progress made in hospital integration, it stressed that timely access to bed-related information remains crucial for emergency care.
