• Published on: May 17, 2022
  • 2 minute read
  • By: Second Medic Expert

What Is Preventive Health Checkup?

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A preventive health checkup is a visit to your doctor to screen for potential health problems. The goal is to catch any problems early when they're easier to treat. Screening tests vary depending on your age, sex, and medical history, but may include a physical exam, blood pressure check, cholesterol test, and screening for cancer and other diseases.

Preventive health screenings are important because they can help identify health risks before they become serious. Many health problems — including heart disease, stroke, cancer, and type 2 diabetes — can be prevented or at least detected early through regular screenings. If you have any questions about what screenings are right for you, talk to your doctor.

A preventive health checkup is a periodic health examination that is intended to identify early signs of disease and to prevent them from developing into more serious conditions. It usually includes tests for common medical conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.

It usually includes a review of the person's medical history, family history, and risk factors for specific diseases, such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, and diabetes. Additionally, it may include a physical examination and laboratory tests. A preventive health checkup is a periodic medical examination performed with the aim of early detection and prevention of diseases in asymptomatic individuals. It usually includes a review of family history, risk factors for common diseases, and recommended screenings based on age, sex, and other personal risk factors.

The doctor will typically check your blood pressure, heart rate, weight, and cholesterol levels, as well as ask about your family history of disease. They may also order other tests or screenings depending on your age and risk factors. It can also help you establish a relationship with a doctor who can help monitor your health over time. A preventive health checkup (preventive health assessment) is a physical examination and medical history review by a health professional that is designed to identify risk factors for preventable diseases and conditions. It also helps to assess the overall state of a person's health and well-being.

The purpose of a preventive health checkup is to detect early signs of disease, assess the risk for developing chronic diseases, and provide guidance on how to reduce this risk. The checkup may also include screenings for cancer, heart disease, stroke, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and other conditions. A preventive health checkup is a doctor's appointment during which you get a variety of tests to screen for illness or disease. Typically, a preventive health checkup includes a physical exam, lab tests, and other screenings. The purpose of a preventive health checkup is to identify any potential health problems before they become serious.

Preventive health care is important because it allows doctors to detect problems early on, when they're easier and less expensive to treat. Many chronic diseases — such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes — can be treated or managed more effectively if they're caught early. Additionally, early diagnosis often means that less severe treatment is required.

Typically, a preventive health checkup includes screenings for cancer, heart disease, and other chronic conditions, as well as physical examinations and laboratory tests. Many experts recommend that all adults have a preventive health checkup at least once every two years. However, people who are at risk for certain diseases or who have medical conditions may need to be screened more often.

The main goal of a preventive health checkup is to identify potential problems before they become serious and require expensive and invasive treatments. Preventive health checkups typically include a physical examination, lab tests, and/or imaging scans. They may also include lifestyle counseling to help people make healthy choices that can reduce their risk for disease. The purpose of a preventive health checkup is to identify any potential problems before they become serious and require expensive treatment.

During this exam, the doctor will measure your height, weight, and blood pressure; listen to your heart and lungs; examine your skin, hair, and nails; look in your eyes and ears; and palpate your abdomen. He or she may also order laboratory tests or other diagnostic procedures, such as X-rays or CT scans.

Read Blog
Digital Health Data Security Challenges India: Securing the Future of Digital Healthcare

Digital Health Data Security Challenges India: Securing the Future of Digital Healthcare

As India rapidly digitizes its healthcare infrastructure-telemedicine platforms, electronic health records (EHRs), AI systems, and wearable data-security risks have escalated. Digital health data security challenges India are now a top priority because healthcare has become the number one target of cyberattacks worldwide.

A 2024 CERT-In report revealed that cyberattacks on Indian healthcare systems increased by 278% in a single year, making hospitals, telemedicine platforms, and diagnostic networks highly vulnerable.

SecondMedic recognizes the seriousness of these threats and has invested deeply in security infrastructure to protect patient data end-to-end.

 

1. Why Health Data Is the Most Valuable Target

Medical records contain:

  • Identity details

  • Medical history

  • Financial data

  • Prescriptions

  • Insurance information
     

This makes them more valuable on the dark web than credit card data.

Attackers use stolen health data for:

  • Fraudulent insurance claims

  • Blackmail

  • Illegal medical purchases

  • Identity theft
     

 

2. Major Digital Health Data Security Challenges in India

1. Cyberattacks on Hospitals and Telemedicine Platforms

India saw multiple ransomware attacks affecting:

  • AIIMS (Delhi)

  • State health servers

  • Diagnostic chains
     

These attacks disrupted services for days.

2. Weak Security in EHR Systems

Many clinics use outdated software with:

  • Weak passwords

  • No encryption

  • No access logs
     

This makes patient data vulnerable.

3. Telemedicine Data Exposure

Unsecured video calls, unencrypted chats, and public Wi-Fi create high-risk environments.

4. Wearable Device Vulnerabilities

Wearables send data to cloud servers.
Without secure APIs, this data can be intercepted.

5. Lack of Standardized Regulations

Though ABDM is improving the framework, India still lacks:

  • Standardized encryption enforcement

  • Strict penalties for breaches

  • Uniform hospital compliance
     

 

3. Compliance Requirements Under ABDM and DPDP Act

India’s Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDP 2023) mandates:

  • Patient consent for data usage

  • Secure processing

  • Limited access control

  • Breach notifications
     

ABDM governs:

  • Health IDs

  • Secure health data exchange

  • Interoperability standards
     

SecondMedic follows both frameworks.

 

4. How SecondMedic Ensures End-to-End Data Security

1. Encryption of All Patient Data

  • AES-256 encryption

  • Multi-layer secure cloud storage

  • Encrypted telemedicine communications
     

2. Role-Based Access Control

Doctors, administrators, and technical staff have different access rights.

3. Secure API Integrations

Data from labs, wearables, and pharmacies flows through secure, resistant APIs.

4. Regular Security Audits

Pen-testing and vulnerability assessments ensure new threats are patched.

5. Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

Prevents unauthorized access.

6. Secure Prescription & Report Handling

Digital prescriptions are encrypted and tamper-proof.

 

5. Building Digital Trust for India’s Healthcare Future

Patients now expect:

  • Transparency

  • Security

  • Clear data usage policies
     

SecondMedic maintains strict data protection protocols, ensuring that every patient interaction-whether teleconsultation, diagnostic review, or preventive health plan-remains secure and confidential.

 

Conclusion

Digital health data security challenges India are real and growing. However, with stronger frameworks, advanced encryption, compliance with DPDP and ABDM, and dedicated platforms like SecondMedic prioritizing patient security, India is building a safer digital healthcare ecosystem. Protecting health data is not just a compliance requirement-it is the foundation of patient trust and the future of Indian healthcare.

 

References

  • CERT-In Cybersecurity Report 2024

  • DPDP Act 2023

  • ABDM Health Data Framework

  • NITI Aayog - Digital Health Roadmap

  • Kaspersky Healthcare Cyber Threat Report

  • Economic Times - Healthcare Cyberattacks India

See all

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