OpenSAFELY

OpenSAFELY

 

Context:

Recently, Professor Ben Goldacre and his team from the University of Oxford created OpenSAFELY, a platform that enables access to data of 58 million people in UK, by also upholding privacy standards.

 

Relevance:

GS03 (Science and technology)

 

About OpenSAFELY:

  • It is a transparent, secure and an open-source software platform that records health data electronically.
  • All data in OpenSAFELY, being publicly logged are available are available for scientific review and efficient re-use.
  • Any code submitted by researchers becomes publicly visible, preventing manipulation of data or results through practices like “p-hacking,” where researchers might alter their methods to achieve specific outcomes. This openness ensures that the analysis is clear, reproducible, and trustworthy.
  • It provides access to health data of over 58 million people in UK by protecting their individual privacy.

 

National Digital Health Mission (NDHM):

  • Under this mission, all medical details of the person like prescriptions, treatment, diagnostic reports and discharge summaries of every Indian is integrated under a Health ID card.
  • It operates under Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) and is implemented by the National Health Authority.
  • The people decide to give one-time access to their data during their visit to the doctors.
  • The access to confidential medical data will have to be given separately for each visit due to fears over data confidentiality.
  • It aims to provide remote access to healthcare services through tele-consultations, e-pharmacies, and other health benefits.