What is Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM)?
Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) is a program launched by the Government of India to provide digital health services to the country’s citizens. The program aims to provide better healthcare services to all citizens, especially those in rural and underserved areas, through the use of digital technologies.
ABDM aims to create a network of digital health services that all citizens can access through various channels, including mobile phones, tablets, and computers. These services include telemedicine, electronic health records, and other digital health tools that can help improve healthcare service delivery and make it more accessible to all citizens.
The program is part of the Ayushman Bharat National Health Protection Scheme (AB-NHPS), which is a government-funded health insurance scheme that provides coverage to over 500 million citizens in India. ABDM is intended to complement the AB-NHPS by providing digital health services that can help improve the delivery of healthcare services and make them more accessible to all citizens.
Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) Vision & Objectives of ABDM
The Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) is a program aimed at improving the availability and equity of healthcare services in India. It seeks to do this through the use of information and communication technologies, such as the internet and mobile phones, to create a “citizen-centric” approach to healthcare. The ABDM has several specific objectives, including:
- Establishing cutting-edge digital health systems and infrastructure to manage and exchange digital health data.
- Creating registries of clinical facilities, healthcare professionals, health workers, medications, and pharmacies to create a single source of truth.
- Adopting open standards for digital health data and promoting the development of enterprise-class health application systems
- Based on informed consent, creating personal health records that individuals and healthcare professionals can simply obtain.
- Encouraging the use of clinical decision support systems by health professionals and practitioners.
- Promoting better management of the health sector through the use of health data analytics and medical research.
- Supporting the efforts of public health authorities in the private sector to participate in the ABDM.
- Ensuring that health services can be accessed and used nationally, regardless of location.
- Enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of governance at all levels.
- Improving the quality and effectiveness of existing health information systems by making sure they adhere to established standards and are properly integrated with the ABDM.
The ABDM program can utilize the strong existing digital infrastructure in India, including the use of the Aadhaar system for identification, the Unified Payments Interface for electronic payments, and widespread access to the internet and mobile phones, as a foundation for improving healthcare information management through digital means.
This includes the ability to digitally identify individuals, healthcare providers, and facilities, facilitate electronic signatures, ensure the authenticity of contracts, process paperless payments, and securely store digital records.
ABDM Components (ABDM)
ABDM Components refer to a set of electronic health tools and systems that are used to manage and improve healthcare delivery in a given region. The ABDM Components include:
1. Health ID/ ABHA Number
The Health ID/ ABHA Number is a unique identification number that is assigned to individuals in the healthcare system to identify and track them. It is used to access and manage the patient’s personal health information and medical records and can be used in different situations, such as when receiving medical care, getting prescriptions filled, or making appointments with healthcare providers.
This number is often kept in electronic health records and can be accessed by authorized healthcare providers and staff to provide care to the individual. It is important to protect this number because it may include sensitive information about the individual’s health and medical history.
2. Health Facility Registry (HFR)
This is a database that contains information about all the healthcare facilities in a given region, including hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies. The HFR is used to identify the nearest and most appropriate healthcare facility for a patient based on their needs and location.
A health facility registry may include:
- The name and location of the facility.
- The types of services offered.
- The hours of operation.
- The facility's contact information.
3. Personal Health Record (PHR)
Personal Health Record (PHR) is a system that allows individuals to manage their own health information and make it available to healthcare providers, caregivers, and other authorized individuals. It is a comprehensive record of an individual’s health history, including medical conditions, allergies, medications, vaccination history, test results, and other relevant health information.
PHRs can be accessed and updated by the individual or their authorized representatives and are designed to be portable and easily shared with healthcare providers as needed.
4. Healthcare Professionals Registry (HPR)
This is a database that contains information about all the healthcare professionals in a given region, including doctors, nurses, and other clinicians. The HPR is used to identify the appropriate healthcare professionals based on a patient’s needs and location.
5. Unified Health Interface (UHI)
This is a tool that allows patients, healthcare professionals, and other stakeholders to access and manage healthcare information and services electronically. The UHI can be used to schedule appointments, access medical records, and communicate with healthcare professionals, among other things.
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Benefits of Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission
The Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) aims to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare delivery in India through the use of digital technologies. Patients will be able to access their medical records and share them with healthcare providers and will also have the option to access healthcare services remotely through teleconsultation and e-pharmacy. Health professionals will have access to more comprehensive patient medical histories, enabling them to prescribe more effective treatments.
The integrated ecosystem will also facilitate the claims process and enable faster reimbursement for healthcare providers. Policymakers and program managers will have better access to data, enabling more informed decision-making, and researchers will be able to study and evaluate the effectiveness of various healthcare programs and interventions. Overall, the ABDM aims to empower individuals with accurate information, provide choices in accessing public and private healthcare services, and increase transparency and accountability in healthcare delivery.
The ABDM Ecosystem
The Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) aims to create a digital infrastructure to support the integrated healthcare system of the country. It aims to connect the various stakeholders in the healthcare ecosystem through digital channels, addressing the current gap in communication and information sharing.
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FAQs
1. Who launched ABDM?
The Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) was launched by the National Health Authority.
2. When was Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission launched?
The Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission was launched on 15th August 2020.
3. What is the NDHM scheme?
The NDHM is a program launched by the Indian government with the aim of building a comprehensive digital health system in the country. It aims to offer a smooth and unified healthcare experience to all citizens by creating a digital platform that links healthcare providers, patients, and insurance providers.
The goal of the NDHM is to improve the accessibility and efficiency of healthcare services in India and reduce the burden on the healthcare system by streamlining processes and reducing the need for in-person visits.
The goal of the NDHM is to improve the accessibility and efficiency of healthcare services in India and reduce the burden on the healthcare system by streamlining processes and reducing the need for in-person visits.
4. What is a PHR Address?
In order to log in to the Health Information Exchange & Consent Manager (HIE-CM), you will need to provide a self-declared username known as a PHR (Personal Health Records) Address. This username is necessary to connect your Health ID to the consent manager, which allows for the sharing of data. All Health ID users can create their own PHR Address during the sign-up process for their Health ID.
5. Is NDHM/ ABDM mandatory?
No, NDHM / ABDM aren’t mandatory.
6. Who owns and manages the NDHM portal?
The NDHM (National Digital Health Mission) portal is owned and managed by the Government of India.
7. What is the difference between PM-DHM and ABDM?
Pradhan Mantri Digital Health Mission (PM-DHM) and Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) are both initiatives aimed at creating a digital health ecosystem in India. Under these missions, individuals (citizens of India) can generate a unique digital health ID, which will contain all their health records.
While PM-DHM was initially implemented in a pilot phase only in the six Union Territories of India, ABDM was launched nationwide on 27th September 2021. Both missions are aimed at improving access to healthcare and enabling the exchange of health information between various stakeholders in the healthcare system.
