Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) completed its three-year journey on 27th September, aiming to revolutionize the nation’s digital healthcare ecosystem by enhancing accessibility, efficiency, and transparency in healthcare.
Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission
- It was launched in 2021 with the aim to provide digital health IDs for all Indian citizens to help hospitals, insurance firms, and citizens access health records electronically when required.
- The National Health Authority (NHA) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is the implementing Agency of ABDM.
Key Features of ABDM
- Unique Health Identifier for Citizens: A unique Health ABHA ID for each individual to securely store and manage health records.
- Healthcare Professionals Registry (HPR): A comprehensive repository of healthcare professionals across modern and traditional systems, enabling connection to India’s digital health ecosystem.
- Health Facility Registries (HFR): A comprehensive repository of public and private health facilities across all systems of medicine, including hospitals, clinics, labs, and pharmacies.
- Unified Health Interface (UHI): Facilitates the discovery and delivery of health services, thereby streamlining healthcare interactions and improving service accessibility.
- Data Privacy and Security: In alignment with the DPDP Act, 2023, the ABDM ensures the security, confidentiality, and secure sharing of patient related health information.
- Transparency: It offers individuals access to public and private health services, ensures guideline compliance, and promotes transparency in pricing and accountability.
Key Initiatives
- Scan and Share: A QR-code-based OPD registration service allows patients to scan facility QR codes and share their demographic details, minimising queues and reducing data inaccuracies.
- Digital Health Incentive Scheme (DHIS): The DHIS encourages hospitals, diagnostic labs, and digital health solution providers to adopt transformative digitization practices through various incentives.
- Microsites for Private Sector Adoption: It is aimed at addressing various challenges in ABDM adoption, especially for private sector providers, has successfully operationalised 106 microsites, surpassing the initial target of 100.
- End to End ABDM Adoption Pilot: The pilot aims to digitise public and private facilities nationwide through comprehensive ABDM adoption, establishing model facilities as benchmarks for future efforts.
- New Portals: The NHA has also developed portals like the National Medical Register (NMC) for the National Medical Commission and the National Dental Register (NDR) for the National Dental Council.
Note
- National Health Authority (NHA) is the apex body responsible for implementing India’s flagship public health insurance/assurance scheme.
- It was established on 2nd January 2019 under the Society Registration Act, 1860.
Achievements of Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission
- ABHA ID: By September 2024, over 67 crore ABHA IDs have been created, providing citizens with unique digital health IDs for secure access to and sharing of their health records.
- More than 42 crore health records have been linked to ABHA, allowing seamless access to medical histories and improving healthcare delivery.
- Integration: Over 236 private entities, including labs, pharmacies, and digital solution companies, have integrated with the ABDM ecosystem to support interoperability.
- Public institutions like AIIMS Delhi and AIIMS Bhopal are top performers in generating Scan and Share OPD registrations.
- Leading private healthcare chains have also played a major role in the success of the ABDM.
- National Healthcare Providers Registry (NHPR): The launch of the NHPR has resulted in the registration of 3.3 lakh health facilities and 4.7 lakh healthcare professionals.
- NHPR is a comprehensive repository of registered healthcare professionals and health facilities.