Nagaland University’s Law Department researchers, Dr. Rumi Dhar and Tania Anya, have proposed a groundbreaking ‘Digital Rehabilitation Law’ aimed at integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI), telemedicine, and mobile health technologies into India’s drug addiction recovery framework. Their study, one of the first doctrinal analyses of India’s legal system’s adaptability to tech-driven rehabilitation, addresses the escalating drug dependency crisis in the country. They argue that traditional rehabilitation methods are often inaccessible, understaffed, and carry stigma, highlighting a pressing need to enhance rehabilitation as a core element of national public health and drug policies.
Published in the KDU Law Journal, the study emphasizes the necessity for academic institutions to create modern solutions for societal challenges. Prof. Jagadish K Patnaik, Vice Chancellor of Nagaland University, affirmed this initiative as a testament to the university’s dedication to socially relevant research that advocates for patient rights, broadens access to care, and promotes evidence-based policymaking. The research analyzes the compatibility of current laws such as the Digital Personal Data Protection Act (2023), Telemedicine Practice Guidelines (2020), and Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (1985) with new digital rehabilitation tools, identifying significant gaps around privacy, informed consent, algorithmic transparency, and accountability in the context of increasing reliance on AI for relapse prediction and virtual counseling.
Dr. Rumi Dhar articulated the urgency and uniqueness of their legislative model, asserting that the proposed ‘Digital Rehabilitation Law’ would align India’s legal framework to facilitate safe, ethical, and technology-enhanced addiction treatment. The research accentuates that while technology has the potential to significantly enhance access to rehabilitation services, especially in rural and underserved areas, it is imperative to establish strong legal safeguards to ensure the protection of patient rights and dignity.
