Launched over video conference on 27 September 2021 with one aim: to make health services more accessible and more equitable.
The mission
The mission draws on IT and its related technologies to support existing health systems with a citizen-centric approach. Its vision is a digital health ecosystem for the nation that can back universal health coverage in a way that is efficient, accessible, inclusive, affordable, timely and safe. It is expected to raise the efficiency, effectiveness and transparency of health services, let individuals choose between public and private providers, and give healthcare professionals better access to a patient's medical history so they can provide better care.
Under the mission, individuals are encouraged to create a Health ID, which standardises how healthcare providers identify people. To issue a UHID (Universal Health ID), the system collects a few basic details about the person, covering demographics, location, family or relationship, and contact information.
The Health ID then identifies each individual uniquely, authenticates them, and allows their health records to be shared, only with informed consent, across many healthcare systems and stakeholders.
Under ABDM, a comprehensive repository of every healthcare professional across both modern and traditional systems of medicine is being built.
By enrolling in the HPR, healthcare professionals become connected to India's digital health ecosystem.
Like the HPR, the HFR is a comprehensive repository, in this case of health facilities. It covers private and public facilities alike, including clinics, hospitals, diagnostic laboratories, imaging centres and pharmacies.
The registry brings these facilities into India's digital health ecosystem.
A PHR is an electronic form of an individual's medical record(s) that follows nationally recognised interoperability standards. It is managed, shared and controlled by the individual, and can draw on multiple sources. Its most notable feature is that the information stays under the individual's control.
The PHR system lets people manage the complete information about their own healthcare. That includes a longitudinal record made up of their health data, lab reports, discharge summaries and treatment details, across one or several health facilities.
With ABHA
Once you have an ABHA, you can:
What it means
Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission is expected to bring a significant improvement in the effectiveness, efficiency and transparency of health service delivery overall.
Patients will be able to store and access their medical records securely, and share them with healthcare providers to support proper treatment and follow-up. People will also get more accurate information about private and public health facilities and service providers, and can reach health services remotely through tele-consultation and e-pharmacy.
Healthcare professionals will see more of a patient's medical history, which helps them offer better and more effective health solutions. ABDM will also digitise the claims process and enable faster reimbursements.
ABDM will give policymakers better access to data for informed decision-making. Higher quality and wider availability of macro- and micro-level data will enable advanced analytics, the use of health biomarkers and much better preventive healthcare. It will also let the government monitor by geography and demography and make suitable decisions, ultimately designing and strengthening the implementation of health programmes and policies.
Researchers will be able to access aggregated information to study and evaluate how well various programmes and interventions work. ABDM would support a comprehensive feedback loop between researchers, policymakers and providers.
FAQ
If you run into problems with your ABHA, you can use any of these support channels: the official ABHA helpline; the customer support team of the website or app where you created your ABHA; or the official ABDM website, where you can check the support section or raise a query for technical issues.
Yes. Creating an ABHA and getting an ABHA card costs nothing. ABHA is a digital health ID provided under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), and there are no charges for registering or for using the card to access or share your health records.
Yes. ABHA makes it easy to share your health records with any healthcare provider, private hospitals included, which supports better coordination and more accurate treatment. How far a given hospital takes part in the ABHA network can vary, though. ABHA can also be linked with government schemes such as PM-JAY, giving you access to affordable or free healthcare services.
An ABHA number is a unique 14-digit identifier given to individuals under India's Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM). To get one, you complete KYC verification using either your Aadhaar card or your driving licence.
ABHA (Ayushman Bharat Health Account) is a digital health ID that lets individuals store and manage their health records. It is part of ABDM and allows smooth access to healthcare services and sharing of medical data with providers. PM-JAY (Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana) is a government health insurance scheme that gives eligible low-income families across India free medical treatment and hospitalisation cover. It aims to protect them financially from medical expenses, especially underprivileged individuals.
Any resident of India. You need a valid mobile number or Aadhaar number for verification during registration, and people of every age group can create an ABHA to manage their digital health records.
Be part of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission and begin your digital health journey with an ABHA.
