Very soon each individual can hope to carry his/her entire medical history in an electronic format. This will enable better monitoring, reduce duplication and improve healthcare delivery.

Apple Medical IT Services, a Hyderabad-based company, has plans to introduce ‘Apple health code', a health access information for individuals with essential medical data. This is vital information for the treating doctors during medical emergencies.

The company is looking at a launch of the product 3-4 weeks from now. It is in the process of tie ups with hospitals, doctors and chemists. Apple Medical wants to use biometric authentication system.

By having a card, with a personal code embedded, it would be carried always or stored in a mobile, a press release said.

By synergising health and technology and using the biometric health info system, it would be possible to constantly update the health information status of individuals. By networking various players in the healthcare system, the effectiveness of the delivery can be improved.

Biometric authentication is the identification of individuals through their distinctive special traits. These include voice, DNA (deoxyribonucleac acid), fingerprint, certain behaviour traits etc.

With electronic data systems slowly gaining currency in health care, the application of technology can significantly improve efficiency while bringing down wastage. The technology can link labs, hospitals, doctors, service providers and also generate alerts needed for disease surveillance.

>soma@thehindu.co.in

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