Digital health solutions such as CoWIN, Arogya Setu and eSanjeevani have proven the power of technology in taking health care to the last mile. As the latest entrant in our digital health ecosystem, Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) is paving way for safer and efficient digital health records for the citizens of India.
As on 4 th March 2022, 18,55,34,866 ABHAs, formerly known as Health IDs have been created under Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM).
Benefits from ABHA
Ayushman Bharat Health Account holders can share their health data with health care providers and can also access the repository of their own health data.
It will also enable beneficiaries to receive their digital lab reports, prescriptions and diagnosis seamlessly from verified healthcare professionals and health service providers.
Creation of Health ID (now known as ABHA) is voluntary and beneficiaries can choose to opt out of the service any time and can request erasure of their data.
The National Health Authority (NHA) is creating awareness among the citizens about the usages and advantages of Health ID to maximize participation from citizens.
How to get ABHA
Enrolment of ABHA is paperless and hassle free. Complete registration takes less than 10 minutes as one is only required to fill in their basic details, and authenticate their Mobile Number or Aadhaar Number. If the applicant chooses not to divulge their Aadhar number, then his/ her name, year of birth, gender, address and mobile number are necessary to create an ABHA.
Interested people can get ABHA by self-registration on the ABHA web portal or by downloading ABDM Health Records application from the Google Playstore. ABHA can be obtained also through a request for creation of your ABHA at a participating health facility, which may include public/private hospitals, community health centers, health and wellness centers across India.
Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission
Government has approved the national roll-out of the Central Sector Scheme, Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission with a budget of Rs.1,600 crore for five years.
The digital health ecosystem created by ABDM supports continuity of care across primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare in a seamless manner. The mission aids availability of health care services particularly in remote and rural areas by encouraging use of technologies like telemedicine and enabling national portability of health services. It will also generate employment across the healthcare ecosystem.
The pilot of ABDM was completed in the six Union Territories of Ladakh, Chandigarh, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, Puducherry, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep with successful demonstration of technology platform developed by the NHA.
Government’s commitment to quality health care
The Government has continued to allocate more funds to strengthen the National Health Mission (NHM). Allocation under NHM has increased from Rs. 27,989 crore in 2020-21 to Rs.31,100 crore in 2021-22 Budget Estimate.
Further, the National Health Policy, 2017, also envisages the States to increase their health spending to at least 8 percent of their health budget and the policy advocates allocating a major proportion (up to two thirds or more) of resources to primary care followed by secondary and tertiary care.
Over 2.77 crore people received free hospitalization under Ayushman Bharat -Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) as of 31 January, 2022 and around 25,000 hospitals have already been empaneled under the programme.
Also, Pradhan Mantri – Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission has been launched with an outlay of Rs 64,180 crore to develop the health infrastructure in the country.
