In India, there is an increase in the magnitude of digitization of healthcare services in various healthcare delivery institutions. It has been claimed by practitioners and clinicians that electronic health records (e.g. personal health records) have the ability to enhance quality and safety of care besides improved management of health information and clinical data. Electronic health records also increase portability of clinical information including the better interaction between patient and health service provider. This has helped public health experts to understand disease trends and better diagnose diseases. Also, from the patients’ perspective, it enables improved services and has reduced the redundant clinical tests. However, these medical records are more institution centric as these are limited to specific/defined healthcare delivery institutions only.
Further, the clinical data resides in silos and usually, access of this data is not extended to the patients, who often struggle with paper based record keeping. Today, with the growing trend of a citizen centric healthcare system from an institution centric healthcare system. To bring about this shift, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare jointly with Ministry of Electronics and IT, Govt. of India has developed a Personal Health Record Management System (titled MyHealthRecord) for citizens of India. The iOS devices in which Apple Health app is supported can push up-to last 6 days of Apple Health app data to MyHealthRecord, for Activitiy details like steps and walking+running.