Over Half of India Now Has Digital Health Records, Govt Data Shows

The National Health Authority (NHA), which is responsible for ABDM’s implementation, said that 51 crore health records have already been linked to ABHA IDs.

More than 76 crore Indians or one in every two citizens now have an Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA ID) under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), according to government data.

The initiative, launched under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s flagship digital health program, aims to build a nationwide digital health ecosystem by integrating medical records, hospitals, and healthcare professionals.

The National Health Authority (NHA), which is responsible for ABDM’s implementation, said that 51 crore health records have already been linked to ABHA IDs. Odisha has recorded the highest number of IDs relative to its population, followed by Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, and Rajasthan, as reported by News18.

“As of today, one in two Indians has created their Ayushman Bharat Health Account. Gradually, they can start linking their health records with ABHA to create their health history,” said Himanshu Burad, Officer on Special Duty to the Joint Secretary & Managing Director (ABDM), National Health Authority.

Burad compared ABHA to a bank account for health records, emphasizing its security and long-term benefits.

“ABHA can be compared to a bank account. In a bank, we keep our wealth, whereas in ABHA, we keep our health. No one can see your health records without your express consent, just like money in a bank cannot be withdrawn without authorization. Over time, these records will create a longitudinal health history, providing tremendous healthcare benefits,” he explained.

Government data shows that ABHA IDs are being generated through multiple sources, including:

-Co-WIN (COVID-19 vaccination portal)

-Ayushman Bharat insurance scheme

-Health Ministry’s non-communicable disease program

-State-level digital health platforms like e-Kavach (UP) and Eka Care

"Scan & Share" Feature Saves Millions of Hours in Hospitals

The government also highlighted the success of the "Scan & Share" initiative, which allows patients to scan a QR code at OPD registration counters for instant check-ins.

“More than nine crore tokens have been issued under the ‘Scan & Share’ feature. Considering each token saves 10 minutes, this has collectively saved 90 crore minutes for patients in hospitals,” Burad said.

The feature is now available in over 19,000 hospitals across 640 districts, with the highest adoption seen at AIIMS Delhi, AIIMS Bhopal, AIIMS Odisha, AIIMS Chhattisgarh, and Gautam Buddha Nagar’s District Combined Hospital (UP).

According to official data, 16,765 hospitals and 17,229 healthcare facilities have registered under ABDM so far, accelerating India’s transition toward a digitized, paperless healthcare system.

ABHA card provides a 14-digit unique ID, allowing users to store and access their complete medical history digitally, reducing the need to carry physical records.

Stay tuned for more such updates on Digital Health News.