Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) - Dream come true

  Dr Madhav Madhusudan Singh

 

Introduction:

Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) is an ambitious initiative by the Government of India, aimed at transforming the healthcare sector of the country through the use of digital technology. The mission was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 27th September 2021. The mission aims to create a unified digital health ecosystem that connects all stakeholders, including patients, doctors, hospitals, insurers, and regulators, to enable better healthcare delivery, monitoring, and management.

The primary objective of the program is to make healthcare services more accessible and affordable for people in India. ABDM is a part of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), which is a flagship program of the government aimed at providing health coverage to the economically weaker sections of the society.

The ABDM program is designed to create a digital infrastructure for the healthcare industry in India. It will enable the seamless exchange of health-related information between different stakeholders in the industry, including patients, doctors, hospitals, insurance providers, and government agencies. The program will leverage cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, and cloud computing to achieve this objective.

The government has not made it mandatory for people or healthcare providers to register for ABDM. However, the program is still in its early stages, and it is possible that the government may make registration mandatory in the future.

As on date , ABHA Number Created ( 21,89,02,765 ) , Health Facilities Registered ( 53,269 )  , Doctors Registered ( 11,677 ) . This speaks the credibility of this program.

How to Get Registered: Steps and requirements for hospital registration under ABDM

Step 1: Check Eligibility Criteria  : The first step towards hospital registration under ABDM is to check the eligibility criteria. The hospital should meet the following eligibility criteria to get registered:

1.    The hospital should be a multi-specialty hospital with at least 50 beds.

2.    The hospital should have a valid registration certificate from the state government or the central government.

3.    The hospital should have a valid PAN card and GST registration certificate.

Step 2: Create an Account on AB-PMJAY Portal  :The second step is to create an account on the AB-PMJAY portal. The portal is the official platform for hospital registration under ABDM. The hospital needs to create an account on the portal to start the registration process. To create an account, the hospital needs to follow these steps:

1.    Go to the AB-PMJAY portal (https://pmjay.gov.in/)

2.    Click on the "Hospital Login" button on the top right corner of the homepage.

3.    Click on the "Create Account" button.

4.    Enter the required details like hospital name, email address, phone number, etc.

5.    Verify the account through the OTP sent to the registered mobile number.

For registration, you can visit the official website of Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission: https://abdm.gov.in/ and follow the registration process as mentioned on the website. You can also contact the National Health Authority (NHA) for more information on registration and implementation of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission. Their contact details can be found on their website: https://pmjay.gov.in/

Step 3: Provide Hospital Details Once the account is created, the hospital needs to provide its details on the AB-PMJAY portal. The following details are required to be provided:

1.    Hospital Name and Address

2.    Contact Details (Phone Number, Email, Fax)

3.    Hospital Type (Government, Private, Trust)

4.    Registration Details (Certificate Number, Validity)

5.    Accreditation Details (If any)

6.    PAN Card and GST Registration Certificate

7.    Bank Account Details (IFSC Code, Bank Name, Account Number)

Step 4: Upload Documents  : The hospital needs to upload the following documents on the AB-PMJAY portal:

1.    Registration Certificate issued by the state or central government.

2.    PAN Card and GST Registration Certificate.

3.    Accreditation Certificate (If any).

4.    Bank Account Details (Cancelled Cheque or Bank Statement).

5.    Hospital Infrastructure Details (Photos and Videos).

Step 5: Get Hospital Assessment Done After the hospital details and documents are submitted on the AB-PMJAY portal, an assessment team will visit the hospital for physical verification. The assessment team will verify the details provided by the hospital and will also check the infrastructure and facilities available at the hospital.

Step 6: Receive Approval and Login Details  : After the assessment is completed, the hospital will receive the approval for registration on the AB-PMJAY portal. The hospital will also receive the login details for the portal through which it can access the PMJAY services and claim payments for the treatments provided to the PMJAY beneficiaries.

 

Benefits:

1.      Access to a digital health ID: ABDM provides a unique digital health ID to every individual who registers for the program. This ID will contain the person's health-related information, such as medical history, prescriptions, and test results. The ID can be accessed by the person and their authorized healthcare providers, making it easier for them to manage their health.

2.    Improved Access to Healthcare Services: ABDM aims to create a unified digital health ecosystem that connects all stakeholders, including patients, doctors, hospitals, insurers, and regulators, to enable better healthcare delivery, monitoring, and management. This will lead to improved access to healthcare services for people across the country, especially those living in remote and rural areas.

3.    Improved Quality of Healthcare Services: ABDM will enable doctors and healthcare providers to access patient records, diagnostic reports, and other critical information in real-time, which will enable them to provide better healthcare services to their patients. This will lead to improved quality of healthcare services and better health outcomes for patients.

4.    Cost Savings: ABDM will enable insurers and regulators to monitor healthcare delivery and management more effectively, which will help to identify and eliminate inefficiencies and reduce costs. This will lead to cost savings for patients, insurers, and the government.

5.    Improved Healthcare Research: ABDM will create a vast repository of health data that can be used for healthcare research and development. This will lead to better understanding of health issues, identification of risk factors, and development of new treatment options.

6.    Greater Transparency: ABDM will enable greater transparency in the healthcare sector, as all stakeholders will be able to access and share information in real-time. This will help to eliminate fraud and corruption and improve the overall integrity of the healthcare system.

Drawbacks:

1.    Privacy Concerns: ABDM involves the collection and sharing of sensitive health data, which raises concerns about privacy and data security. It is important to ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place to protect patient privacy and prevent misuse of data.

2.    Digital Divide: ABDM relies on digital technology, which may pose a challenge for people who do not have access to digital devices or internet connectivity. It is important to ensure that adequate infrastructure and support are in place to ensure that everyone can benefit from ABDM.

3.    Implementation Challenges: ABDM is a complex initiative that involves multiple stakeholders and requires coordination and collaboration across different levels of government and the private sector. The success of ABDM will depend on the effective implementation of the initiative and overcoming various challenges that may arise.

Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission is a significant initiative that has the potential to transform the healthcare sector in India. By creating a unified digital health ecosystem, ABDM aims to improve access to healthcare services, enhance the quality of healthcare services, reduce costs, enable healthcare research, and promote greater transparency in the healthcare sector. However, to ensure the success of ABDM, it is important to address various challenges and concerns, including privacy, digital divide, and implementation challenges, and ensure that appropriate safeguards and support are in place to enable everyone to benefit from ABDM.

Dr Madhav Madhusudan Singh MBBS, MHA , MBA , Ph.D.

https://twitter.com/madhavsingh1972

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-madhav-madhusudan-singh-07139a26/

 

Join the mission to Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission

The Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) aims to develop the backbone necessary to support the integrated digital health infrastructure of the country. It will bridge the existing gap amongst different stakeholders of Healthcare ecosystem through digital highways.