RSBY uses IT model to rapidly spread health insurance
The use of IT and smartcards to roll out India's RSBY program (see http://rfsearchlight.clearsignals.org/node/277) streamlines healthcare and vastly increases enrollment.
The health insurance program uses smart cards to ensure a paperless, cashless system for healthcare: patients show up, show the card, and are given care no questions asked. The system also lays the infrastructure for massive data collection and analysis. All enrolled hospitals are currently connected to a central district server, and RSBY is developing a robust monitoring and evaluation system.
Sources:
Halarnkar, Samar. ‘The master card’. The Hindustan Times. 4 July 2010:http://www.hindustantimes.com/special-news-report/india-news/The-master-card/Article1-567469.aspx
Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojna: http://rsby.gov.in/
‘Details of Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojna’. india.gov.in: http://india.gov.in/citizen/health/viewscheme.php?schemeid=1436
‘Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojna’. District Rural Development Agency Kangra at Dharamshala: http://drdakangra.com/guidelines/RSBY.pdf
Swarup, Anil. ‘RSBY demonstrates the largest use of IT applications in rural areas’. E-Health Online. 1 September 2010: http://www.ehealthonline.org/interview/interview-details.asp?Title=%93RSBY-demonstrates-the-largest-use-of-IT-applications-in-rural-areas%94&interviewid=714
