Ayushman Bharat Health Accounts

• 22 Apr 2024

Source: PIB

Why in News?

Ayushman Bharat Health Accounts (ABHA) has emerged as a transformative force, aiming to revolutionise healthcare access and data management across India.

What is ABHA?

• About: ABHA is a unique 14-digit number used to link all the health records of a person. ABHA intends to create a digital health ecosystem & aims to promote digitisation of healthcare.
  • Any individual can enroll in Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) to generate a Health ID or ABHA, free of cost.
• Features:
  • Electronic Health Records (EHR): ABHA integrates electronic health records, facilitating the storage and retrieval of patient information.
    • This helps in maintaining medical histories and streamlining healthcare delivery.
  • Portability: The accounts are designed to be portable across various healthcare providers empanelled under the Ayushman Bharat Scheme, allowing beneficiaries to access services seamlessly, regardless of their location.
  • Transparency and Accountability: By promoting digital transactions and maintaining electronic records, ABHA enhances transparency and accountability in the healthcare system.

What is Ayushman Bharat Yojna?

• Ayushman Bharat Yojana: Also known as the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY), it is a flagship scheme of the Government of India that was launched in September 2018 as recommended by the National Health Policy 2017, to achieve the vision of Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
• Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM): It aims to develop the backbone necessary to support the integrated digital health infrastructure of the country and bridge the existing gap amongst different stakeholders of the Healthcare ecosystem through digital highways.

What are the Other Recent Government Initiatives Related to Healthcare?

• Health and Wellness Centres: In February 2018, the Government of India announced the creation of Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) by transforming existing Sub Centres and Primary Health Centres as the base pillar of Ayushman Bharat.
  • These centres would deliver Comprehensive Primary Health Care (CPHC) bringing healthcare closer to the homes of people covering both maternal and child health services and non-communicable diseases, including free essential drugs and diagnostic services.
• Janaushadhi Kendra: It ensures quality generic medicines available at affordable prices to all citizens.
• eSanjeevani: eSanjeevani - the National Telemedicine Service of the Ministry of Health and Family, Government of India has evolved into the world’s largest documented telemedicine implementation in primary healthcare.
  • It has digitally brought health services to the masses in rural areas and remote communities.

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Questions (PYQs)

Prelims:

Q. With reference to the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, consider the following statements: (2022)

1. Private and public hospitals must adopt it.
2. As it aims to achieve universal, health coverage, every citizen of India should be part of it ultimately.
3. It has seamless portability across the country.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only 
(b) 3 only 
(c) 1 and 3 only 
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Ans: (d)

---

Mains:

Q. Appropriate local community-level healthcare intervention is a prerequisite to achieve ‘Health for All’ in India. Explain. (2018)