Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) is a public welfare scheme conducted by the National Health Authority of India(NHA). It also manages the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY). NHA is also the apex body for the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM).
It is tasked with strategising, building relevant technology and implementing ABDM.
The PM-JAY scheme is the world’s largest government-funded health insurance scheme. It aims to support India’s poor and middle class in getting quality healthcare. The Ayushman Bharat Digital mission was launched in September 2021 as a part of ABDM. With Covid spearheading the need to safeguard a large swathe of the population, ABHA was rolled out for multiple reasons.
Ayushman Bharat Health Account(ABHA): An Introduction
The Ayushman Bharat Health Account(ABHA) is a part of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission. An ABHA ID is generated for each user. The ABHA ID is a 14-digit unique ID that will digitalise the user’s medical history and details. The government launched several healthcare schemes like PM-JAY. A digital healthcare repository is important to streamline services and ensure correct reach.
The Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission is a platform which connects all parts of the healthcare process into a single place. All stakeholders like state and Central government, hospitals, doctors, medical laboratories and users are connected via this digital mission. The user accesses all these features via this ABHA ID.
ABHA Key features
The important features of Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) are:
- The ABHA ID is unique. It safely establishes the user’s identity to various healthcare practitioners in the digital healthcare ecosystem.
- All medical benefits, insurance and government-issued public health schemes can be linked to ABHA ID.
- Use the ABHA ID to book hospital appointments online. Save time by using the Online Registration System (ORS). Book an appointment using ABHA.
- Users can sign up for Personal Health Records (PCR) on the ABDM ecosystem for health data sharing.
Ayushman Bharat Health Account Eligibility
- All Indian citizens are eligible for ABHA.
Ayushman Bharat Health Account Documents Required
Opening an Ayushman Bharat Health Account(ABHA) requires the following documents:
- Aadhar is required for registration, or
- Driving License: Only an enrollment number will be received if a driving license is used. Verification of details will be done at the nearest ABDM centre to issue ABHA ID.
- A mobile number linked to Aadhaar.
Where to register for ABHA?
- Visit https://abha.abdm.gov.in/abha/v3/
- Select “Create ABHA Number”
- Proceed using an Aadhaar or Driving License.
Fee
No fee is payable.
Ayushman Bharat Health Account Benefits
The benefits of an Ayushman Bharat Health Account(ABHA) are:
- A user can get all their medical records from this platform easily.
- They can access their medical records from anywhere.
- It can be shared with any healthcare professional without any missing medical records.
- Medical records can be shared with different operators within the system like hospitals, doctors and laboratories.
- Access control rests with the user.
- Privacy is under the user’s control.
- Users can access medical practitioners of different streams like allopathy, homoeopathy etc.
- Saves time.
- The platform is safe and data is encrypted.
- Saves money: Access to all medical reports will reduce the duplicity of medical diagnostic tests.
- The user can withdraw permission to share their health data.
- This permission withdrawal can be a permanent or temporary suspension.
- The government can use anonymous data from this platform to monitor public health plan schemes and interventions.
Other Benefits of Ayushman Bharat Health Account(ABHA)
The Ayushman Bharat Health Account(ABHA) can be linked to other government schemes. The Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana(PM-JAY) offers the ABHA beneficiary the following benefits:
- Treatment of up to Rs. 5 Lacs is free in a government or private hospital on the panel of ABDM.
- Prehospitalisation and post-hospitalisation costs: The scheme offers 3 days prehospitalisation stay. 15 days post – hospitalisation cost is available.
- Cancer treatment is available for various types of cancers. Medical and surgical packages cannot be bundled together at a time.
- Follow-up visits can be covered.
- It ensures cashless admission to hospitals empanelled in the Ayushman Bharat Scheme.
Important Questions About Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA)
- Is it compulsory to get an Ayushman Bharat Health Account(ABHA)?
- No, it is not compulsory to get an ABHA ID.
- Will user’s health data be accessible to all?
- No, the user’s data cannot be accessed by another without consent. The user only has full control over his health data.
- Can a user opt out of health data sharing?
- Yes, a user can opt out of data sharing. They can permanently revoke this permission. They can do it temporarily also.
- Does ABHA offer free treatment to all?
- The PM-JAY beneficiaries of ABHA will get insurance and cashless benefits as listed in the scheme.
- Is it beneficial to get an ABHA ID?
- Yes, irrespective of financial status, it is good to have an ABHA ID. The user’s medical data can be easily available digitally whenever and wherever required.
ABHA Address
There is a provision to create a unique ABHA username by using the Ayushman Bharat Health Account(ABHA). This unique username is called ABHA address. The username is self-declared. It is also used to facilitate health data transfer to
providers. This transfer takes place when initiated by the user and with their consent.
Summary
The Ayushman Bharat Health Account(ABHA) is a unique initiative by the Government of India. The government wants to digitise the medical data of its citizens. It wants to get all its beneficiary schemes, beneficiaries, organisations and personnel on a single platform. The National Health Mission is tasked with making and managing this ecosystem. The ABHA ID will facilitate improvements in healthcare accessibility. Marginalised citizens will get digital representation and ease of access to genuine medical care.
