Health Secy Chandra Urges States & UTs to Link ABHA ID with Health Portals

Health Secretary Chandra stressed the need to maximize benefits for stakeholders, including patients.

The Union Health Secretary has 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 Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (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.

Need for Linking Health Records

Health Secretary Chandra emphasized that while states have made significant progress in creating ABHA IDs, the failure to link health records with these IDs hinders stakeholders, including patients, from availing digital health records benefits.

Therefore, he urged states and UT governments to take immediate action to link existing beneficiaries with ABHA across various health portals and conduct regular progress reviews.

Chandra highlighted the importance of the National Digital Health Mission (NDHM), launched by

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 27, 2021. All health facilities in the country are expected to participate in this mission.

Utilizing the ABDM platform through the Health Facility Registry and Health Professional Registry is crucial for maximizing the benefits of digital healthcare.

Previous Initiatives & Current Focus

States and UTs were previously instructed to ensure 100% compliance in ABHA seeding on various portals through a letter dated June 13, 2023.

While some states and UTs have made commendable progress in creating ABHA IDs, there is a need for further action to link beneficiaries under various health portals such as NCD, Sickle Cell, RCH, NIKSHAY, NVHCP, PMNDP, and IDSP-IHIP (Integrated Health Information Platform).

Under the ABDM, citizens can create their ABHA numbers, enabling hassle-free access and digital sharing of health records.

This facilitates the creation of longitudinal health records across different healthcare providers, ultimately improving clinical decision-making by healthcare providers.

The call to link ABHA with various health portals underscores the government's commitment to advancing digital healthcare services.

By ensuring seamless integration and accessibility of health records, stakeholders can harness the full potential of digital health technology to enhance patient care and clinical outcomes.

It is imperative for states and UTs to prioritize the linkage of beneficiaries with ABHA to realize the vision of a digitally empowered healthcare ecosystem.

Just days back, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) pledged to expand the Ayushman Bharat scheme. PM Narendra Modi announced this initiative while releasing the BJP's manifesto for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

The expansion entails including all individuals from the transgender community and senior citizens aged 70 and above under the ambit of the Ayushman Bharat Yojana. The Prime Minister emphasized the importance of addressing the healthcare concerns of older people, particularly regarding the affordability of treatment for various ailments.