Half of India's population now has ABHA IDs

Half of India's population now has an ABHA ID, part of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission. This initiative aims to digitize health records and create a national digital health system. According to government data, over 76 crore people have registered for these IDs. Odisha leads in the number of IDs created compared to its population. Other states doing well include Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, and Rajasthan. The Ayushman Bharat Health Account allows individuals to link their health records, making it easier to track medical histories. Himanshu Burad, an official with the National Health Authority, noted that over 51 crore health records are now linked to ABHA IDs. Each ABHA ID comes with a unique 14-digit number. This ID connects all medical history, consultations, and prescriptions, removing the need to carry paper records when visiting hospitals. Burad compared the ABHA ID to a bank account. Just like a bank account keeps wealth safe, an ABHA ID keeps health information secure. No one can access health records without consent. The ID is being created through various platforms. The main sources include the government’s Co-Win portal, the Ayushman Bharat insurance scheme, and several health apps. Additionally, more than nine crore tokens have been issued for a “scan & share” feature. This allows patients to scan a QR code at hospitals for quick registration, saving significant time. This system is currently operational in over 19,000 hospitals across 640 districts.