DPDP for Digital Health Platforms
Digital health platforms process patient records, symptom logs, and device data. Learn how to manage these specific health data flows under DPDP.
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DPDP Action Sheet
Use this before your next workflow goes live. It keeps the useful parts visible and turns DPDP into checks your team can actually answer.
For DPDP for Digital Health Platforms, the DPDP question is how personal data enters the workflow, where it is stored, which tools touch it, what purpose was explained, and how deletion or withdrawal will work.
1. Lead Forms
Check:
- What data are you collecting?
- Is the purpose clear at the point of collection?
- Is marketing consent separate from service communication?
- Can the user withdraw consent later?
Common mistake: one checkbox that silently covers newsletters, sales calls, partner sharing and remarketing.
2. Email and WhatsApp
Check:
- Who is on the list?
- Where did consent come from?
- Is the list imported from a vendor, event, webinar, scrape or old CRM?
- Can you prove the source of consent?
Common mistake: treating every lead as permanently marketable.
3. Ads and Retargeting
Check:
- Are pixels or ad platforms receiving identifiable user behavior?
- Are audiences built from customer lists?
- Are lookalike or remarketing audiences using personal data?
Common mistake: assuming "the ad platform handles it" means your company has no DPDP responsibility.
4. Website Analytics
Check:
- Which tools run on the site?
- Are IP address, device identifiers, session IDs or form fields being captured?
- Is analytics used only for measurement, or also for profiling and targeting?
Common mistake: installing tools first and asking privacy questions later.
5. Vendor List
Make a quick list:
- CRM
- Email platform
- WhatsApp provider
- Analytics
- Ad pixels
- Form tool
- Landing page builder
- Webinar tool
For each vendor, answer: what data goes there, why, who can access it and how deletion works.
6. This Week's Action
Map one campaign from first click to final follow-up. Mark every place personal data is collected, enriched, shared, uploaded or used for targeting.
If your team cannot answer where the data came from and where it goes next, start with a data flow map before rewriting policy copy.
Book a DPDP clarity callWant all of this handled, end to end? Sanctum is the all-in-one DPDP compliance programme behind this site: legal position, data map, gap analysis, implementation, tooling, training, readiness opinion, and breach cover under one accountable owner. How all-in-one DPDP compliance works or see the Sanctum programme.
Digital health platforms handle continuous data streams that physical clinics do not. You process live biometric data from wearables and long-term symptom logs. Compliance for these platforms requires securing the data exchange between users, doctors, and care partners.
Our compliance process begins with a four-week gap assessment to identify where your health data flows. Implementation of technical and legal controls usually takes two to three months. A final assessment follows to verify the platform meets all standards.
Digital Health Data Workflows
| Workflow Area | Data Processed | DPDP Risk Level |
|---|---|---|
| Symptom Tracking | Self-reported illness, mood, duration | Very High |
| Wearable Syncing | Heart rate, sleep stages, activity levels | High |
| Tele-consultation | Video recordings, chat logs, prescriptions | Very High |
| Pharmacy Integration | Medication history, delivery address | High |
| Care Partner Sync | Authorized family access, notification logs | Medium |
Managing Care Partner Access
Many health apps allow “care partners” like family members or private nurses to view patient data. DPDP requires specific consent for this sharing. Your platform must allow the primary patient to revoke a care partner’s access at any time. The system must also log every time a care partner views a record to maintain a clear audit trail.
The Conflict of Local App Storage
A major conflict exists between local device storage and server-side deletion. Users often expect their health history to stay on their phones for offline viewing. However, DPDP requires data deletion once the purpose of processing is fulfilled or consent is withdrawn. You must build sync triggers that delete data from the local app cache when a user closes their account or requests data erasure.
This Week
Map every data field your app collects from wearables. Identify which fields are necessary for the health service and which are optional. Disable the data sync for any biometric fields that your platform does not actively use for medical outcomes.
Need help applying this to your business? Review the consulting scope and bring the systems, teams, and data flows involved to your first call. If you already have a gap assessment, see implementation support.
Frequently asked questions
Do we need consent to share data with a doctor on our platform?
Yes. The platform must obtain clear consent from the user to share their health records with a specific professional. The consent notice must state exactly which records the doctor can access.
Is data from fitness trackers considered personal data under DPDP?
Yes. Heart rate, sleep stages, and activity logs are personal data if they link to an identifiable person. You must protect this biometric data with the same rigor as a medical record.
How do we handle users under the age of 18?
DPDP requires verifiable parental consent for users under 18. You must implement a digital workflow to confirm a parent or legal guardian has authorized the child's health profile.