A Gold for Healthcare

Over the last few years, healthcare has been in focus both with the government and the private sector, if from different perspectives. All concur, however, on the need to bring the Indian healthcare system on a par with the best practices in the world. Could ABDM be a headstart?

- Jyotsna Sharma

THE AYUSHMAN BHARAT Digital Mission (ABDM) is slated to revolutionise the healthcare infrastructure, if only through the digital mode. If our country is to provide equity in healthcare to a population of our size, it would be through such an initiative. But what exactly is ABDM? It is an integrated digital healthcare platform that will bring together all stakeholders by creating a digital registry of the medical history of patients.

Such a digital registry will help patients access quality healthcare. Through health IDs, the ABDM will enable ease of registration and paperless health records will reduce chances of loss of information. The National Digital Health Mission pilot project was launched in six Union territories on 15 August, 2020. The nationwide rollout of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 27 September, 2021.

In her Budget speech this year, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced that the ABDM will be rolled out during 2022 and highlighted the benefits of the scheme. “Thanking FM @NSitharamanJi for announcing the rollout of an open platform for the national health ecosystem. It will consist of digital registries of health providers and health facilities, unique health identity, consent framework and universal access to health facilities,” tweeted Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya. Last year, the Finance Minister had announced that the government would be looking at spending Rs 64,180 crore over six years to improve healthcare services in India. Earlier this year, the Union Cabinet cleared a budget of Rs 1,600 crore for ABDM for use over the next five years. As of 5 April, 2022, 21,18,03,089 ABHA numbers (health IDs) have been created and 24,390 facilities have been registered.