If Banking Apps Can Share Money Instantly, Why Can’t Hospitals Share Health Data? Can FHIR Be the Solution?

 In today’s world, transferring money is as easy as tapping a button. Thanks to UPI and common banking APIs, Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm, and your bank’s own app all “talk” to each other instantly.

But here’s the paradox:
🏥 Hospitals, clinics, and labs still struggle to share even the simplest patient information.

If banking solved it years ago, why hasn’t healthcare caught up?

The Problem: Healthcare Data in Silos

Every hospital maintains its own records, often in different formats.

• Your lab test in Hospital A may not be visible to Hospital B.

• A discharge summary might be a PDF that another hospital’s system can’t use.

• In emergencies, doctors often rely on what patients remember rather than actual medical history.

This leads to:
❌ Repeated tests
❌ Higher costs
❌ Delayed treatment
❌ Patient frustration

Real-life example:
Imagine Priya, a working professional in Delhi, moves to Bengaluru. She has diabetes and hypertension. When she visits a new doctor, she is asked to repeat her blood tests — simply because her old reports aren’t accessible. This is not just inefficient; it’s unfair.

The Banking Analogy

Banking once had the same problem. Every bank worked in isolation. Transfers took days.

Then came standardization and APIs. Now:

• Money moves in seconds.

• Different apps and banks seamlessly connect.

• Customers stay in control.

👉 What UPI did for banking, FHIR could do for healthcare.

What Is FHIR?

FHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources) is a global standard created by HL7.

It provides a common language and API-based format for health data, so:

• Hospital A can share data with Hospital B

• Labs can send results directly to doctors’ apps

• Patients can access their complete health history securely

Think of FHIR as the digital bridge connecting the healthcare ecosystem.

A Real-Life Scenario: With vs. Without FHIR

Without FHIR:
Ravi, 60, travels to another city and experiences chest pain.
The hospital there doesn’t know his past angioplasty history, medicines, or allergies. Tests are repeated. Time is lost.

With FHIR:
Ravi shares his digital health record (like a health wallet) with the new hospital.
The doctor sees his stents, allergies, and recent ECG instantly.
Treatment begins faster and safer.

The Indian Context: ABDM and Beyond

India is already moving in this direction with the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), which aims to give every citizen a Health ID and link all medical records.

FHIR plays a critical role here — acting as the standard protocol for data sharing.
Just like Aadhaar enabled digital identity and UPI enabled digital payments, ABDM + FHIR can enable digital health records.

Challenges Ahead

Of course, it’s not easy. Key challenges include:

• Legacy hospital IT systems resisting change

• Data privacy and security concerns

• Training and adoption costs

But the benefits far outweigh the hurdles.

The Future: UPI for Healthcare

Imagine a future where:
✅ You carry your health records in your mobile app, like a wallet.
✅ Hospitals, labs, and insurers instantly share your data with your consent.
✅ Doctors get a 360° view of your health history, anywhere in the world.

That’s the power of FHIR.

Final Thought

Banking proved that with the right standards and policies, industries can transform. Healthcare, with its life-saving stakes, deserves the same revolution.

The real question is not if FHIR will become the UPI of healthcare —
👉 It’s how fast we can make it happen.

💬 What’s your view? Should patients push for FHIR-driven data sharing the same way we embraced UPI for banking?