Can the digital health ID programme help spur India's struggling economy?

India is Asia's third-largest economy but its total spending on health care is only about 3.5% of gross domestic product -- among the lowest rates in the world

A $23-million programmeme offering a digital health ID to every citizen could bolster India’s economic growth amid the coronavirus pandemic, according to the head of the country’s health authority.

The National Digital Health Mission, which aims to create a repository of doctors and health facilities across India -- in addition to digitizing citizens’ health records -- will lead to cost savings and better economic outcomes, Indu Bhushan, chief executive officer of the National Health Authority, said in an interview.

Analysis of Big Data on health “will lead to better planning, budgeting and implementation for states and health programmes, which should