Ayushman Bharat Health IDs to be Available on Google Wallet from 2025

In a blog post, Google confirmed its collaboration with the Government of India’s Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission.

Ayushman Bharat Health ID cards will be available on Google Wallet from 2025, as announced by Google.

These health IDs, part of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), allow users to store, share, and manage their digital health information seamlessly with healthcare providers across India.

In a blog post, Google confirmed its collaboration with the Government of India’s Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission.

Google's health research team has worked closely with the National Health Authority to streamline the integration process. The time required for app integrations with the ABDM infrastructure is expected to decrease from six months to less than two weeks.

Starting in 2025, Ayushman Bharat Health ID cards will be accessible on Google Wallet in partnership with Eka Care.

Users will be able to manage their health data, including lab reports and prescriptions, directly from their devices. To ensure privacy and security, users will need to authenticate their devices with a fingerprint, PIN, or passcode to access or add their Ayushman Bharat Health ID to Google Wallet.

Google highlighted that this integration will benefit over 600 million users, making it easier for them to manage their health records and use India's public health infrastructure more efficiently.

The Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) offers cashless healthcare services at hospitals across the country, covering all pre-existing conditions from the first day of enrollment.

Last month, the Union Cabinet approved a health coverage scheme under AB PM-JAY, offering INR 5 Lakh of free health insurance to senior citizens aged 70 and above, regardless of income. These citizens will be issued a new health card under the scheme.

In April, the Union Health Secretary called upon states and union territories to expedite the integration of Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) with various health portals to enhance digital healthcare services.

According to Health Secretary Apurva Chandra, linking ABHA with platforms such as Reproductive Child Health (RCH) and National Tuberculosis Elimination Program (NIKSHAY) is crucial for optimizing the benefits of digital health records.

As per data from the ABDM dashboard, a total of 5,894.60 lakh ABHA IDs have been created across the country as of April 3, 2024.

However, the number of beneficiaries linked with ABHA under specific programs remains relatively low.

Only 827.99 Lakhs, 0.89 Lakhs, 15.78 Lakhs, 2.46 Lakhs, 0.056 Lakhs, and 0.17 Lakhs beneficiaries are linked under Non-communicable Diseases (NCD), Sickle Cell, RCH, NIKSHAY, National Viral Hepatitis Control Program (NVHCP), and Pradhan Mantri National Dialysis Programme (PMNDP), respectively.

Stay tuned for more such updates on Digital Health News.