Mental health apps in India: regulatory landscape and future directions

Mental health apps (MHAs) are increasingly popular in India due to rising mental health awareness and app accessibility. Despite their benefits, like mood tracking, sleep tools and virtual therapy, MHAs lack regulatory oversight. India's framework, including the Central Drugs Standard Control O...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:BJPsych international 2024-10, p.1-4
Main Authors: Singh Sethi, M. I., Kumar, Rakesh C., Manjunatha, Narayana, Naveen Kumar, Channaveerachari, Math, Suresh Bada
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
data privacy
digital health
Mental health apps (MHAs)
mobile health (mHealth)
regulatory framework
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Summary:Mental health apps (MHAs) are increasingly popular in India due to rising mental health awareness and app accessibility. Despite their benefits, like mood tracking, sleep tools and virtual therapy, MHAs lack regulatory oversight. India's framework, including the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) and Medical Device Rules 2017, does not cover standalone health apps, raising concerns about data privacy and accuracy. Establishing a centralised regulatory body with guidelines for MHAs is essential for user safety and efficacy. This paper examines the current regulatory landscape, compares international approaches and proposes a tiered regulatory framework to foster responsible innovation while safeguarding user interests in digital mental health services.
ISSN:2056-4740
2058-6264
DOI:10.1192/bji.2024.20