Govt Launches AarogyaPath To Tackle Supply Chain Troubles In Healthcare

The government has set up a national healthcare supply chain portal, AarogyaPath, to provide real-time availability of critical healthcare supplies.

In an official statement issued on June 13, the ministry of science and technology highlighted that the AarogyaPath was developed to address challenges in the supply chain, along with the ability to produce and deliver critical items. The portal, which was launched on June 12, will serve manufacturers, suppliers and customers.

For customers, the integrated public platform helps in tackling a number of routinely experienced issues such as dependence on limited suppliers, time-consuming processes to identify good quality products, limited access to suppliers who can supply standardised products at reasonable prices within desired timelines, lack of awareness about the latest product launches and more.

Manufacturers and suppliers can rely on it to reach a wide network of customers efficiently, overcome gaps in connectivity between them and potential demand centers such as the pathological laboratories, medical stores, hospitals, and other healthcare providers.

The ministry has claimed that ArogyaPath will create opportunities for business expansion due to an expanded slate of buyers and visibility of new requirements for products. Moreover, analytics from this platform is expected to alert manufacturers about overcapacity and looming shortages over time.

It also believes that the integrated platform would help in reducing wastage of resources by giving a medium to cut down on inefficient forecasting and excess manufacturing. The ministry of science and technology believes that AarogyaPath would raise awareness on the need to incorporate technology, and also fill-in the critical gap in last-mile delivery of patient care through improved availability and affordability of healthcare supplies.

The government had also launched Aarogya Setu in April 2020. The app, which started off as a simple contact trace app, has been transformed into a one-stop solution for almost all healthcare-related needs. The app now allows users to apply for e-pass, get regular updates on Covid-19 and more. The government has also integrated Mitr portal to offer free telemedicine and consultation services for coronavirus-related inquiries.

The Aarogya Setu app has partnered with Swasth Foundation, Project StepOne, Tata Bridgital Health and Tech Mahindra’s healthcare initiative Connectsense Telehealth to offer teleconsultation service from verified doctors. It has also listed 1mg Dr Lal Pathlabs, Metropolis, SRL Diagnostics and Thyrocare to offer doorstep lab tests.