"Aadhar", the unique identification card (UID) would open up a whole new dimension in healthcare in the country, according to Mr Nandan Nilekani, Chairman of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI). Mr Nilekani was speaking on the theme "Aadhar and its role in delivering universal healthcare" at the special plenary session on the first day of the 8th India Health Summit organised by Confederation of India Industries (CII) at New Delhi.

Explaining the applications of the UID, Mr Nilekani said most Indians do not have birth certificates or any other proof of identity and added to this is the problem of migration or mobility. This poses a problem for an individual in availing any facility or service. The UID system being put in place in India would help eliminate this problem, Mr Niilekani said. With internet facilitating accumulation and analysis of large volumes of data, these records can prove of immense use both for the individual as well as the medical practitioners, the UIDAI chairman said. Pointing out that 125 million persons have already been enrolled for UID and the figure going to grow by 600 million in the next two and a half years, Mr Nilekani said this would help keep and examine records.

Explaining, he said it would enable and streamline delivery of healthcare facilities like immunisation. At present it is often not known what all has a child been immunised for, especially if he travels elsewhere with his parents. The records stored under his UIID would eliminate this problem. At the same time, with large volumes of data records of people, it would be possible to see trends of diseases, building up of any epidemic and monitor functioning of health care operators in real time, Mr Nilekani pointed out. Thanking Mr Nilekani for opening up "a whole new stream", Dr Naresh Trehan, Chairman, CII National Committee on Healthcare, said in light of all this, the medical fraternity would need to make use of the opportunity provided by the Aadhar system, work with the government on this and make the necessary tie ups to put systems in place for making use of the opportunity.