Improving Transparency in Service Delivery to Fight Corruption? Mapping Multi-Stakeholder Voices on Digitization in the Indian Public Healthcare Sector

Abstract

In recent years, digital technologies have been recognized as essential for combating corruption in healthcare by academics and practitioners alike. Our study focuses on India, where healthcare policies increasingly emphasize digital public health services. We analyze multi-stakeholder perspectives emerging in the country post the 2020 launch of a national digital health plan. The study uses interviews, participant observation, and official video transcripts to critically appraise these perspectives. Although government actors view digital innovation as a panacea for issues like inclusion, transparency, and service delivery, other stakeholders raise concerns on wide-ranging issues. These include infrastructural and design challenges, unclear policies on data privacy, and the opaque role of private companies in providing digital solutions. Particularly, grassroots actors warn of new opportunities for corruption due to extensive digitization. This article explores the dichotomy between policy intentions and practical realities, highlighting the complex relationship between digital transformation in healthcare and corruption control.

Keywords

corruption digitization digital public health services India transparency

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