ABHA ID (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Govt Scheme)

Context: Recently, the National Medical Commission (NMC) mandated medical colleges to adopt the ABHA (Ayushman Bharat Health Account) ID registration system to facilitate the acquisition of accurate clinical material and ensure effective training for MBBS, MD, and MS students.

Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) ID

• About: ABHA is a randomly generated 14-digit number designed to uniquely identify individuals, authenticate them, and interconnect their health records across various systems and stakeholders.
• Launched: In 2021, by NHA (National Health Authority), a division of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, introduced as part of the Ayushman Bharat Yojana.
• Opt-In for Digital Security: Individuals have the option to voluntarily create a secure ABHA, allowing them to access and share their health data with participating healthcare providers and payers.
• Centralized Health Record Management: ABHA assists citizens in consolidating their health records in one secure location, promoting efficient record management.
• Digital Accessibility for Stakeholders: Users, insurance companies, and hospitals can digitally access health records, fostering streamlined communication and collaboration in the healthcare ecosystem.
• Health Information Access: ABHA facilitates easy digital access to lab reports, prescriptions, consultation details, and diagnoses from verified doctors by presenting the Health ID.
• Nationwide Digital Connectivity: It digitally connects hospitals across the country, promoting seamless information exchange and collaboration in the healthcare sector.
• Voluntary Nature and Opt-Out Option: Having an ABHA health ID card is not mandatory, providing individuals the choice to register for the facility or erase their information from the ABHA database if they wish to opt out.