Earlier, the Union Health Ministry said that central government employees have to mandatorily link their CGHS beneficiary IDs with ABHA numbers from April 1, 2024. The linking must be completed within 30 days, the ministry added.
The ministry further added: The CGHS beneficiaries can visit their nearest CGHS wellness centre on a need basis to avail assistance for the following services: a) Updating their mobile number; b) correction of error(s) – in name, year of birth, or gender; c)linking of CGHS beneficiary ID to ABHA number, from 01.07.2024 onwards.
“The creation of ABHA ID (ABHA number) has been extended for a time period of 90 days, w.e.f. 30.06.2024 (3 months from 30.06.2024),” the ministry said.
ABHA number: What is it?
Every Ayushman Bharat Health Account card contains a unique 14-digit identification number called ABHA ID. It is used to link all your health records. Think of it as a repository where you can store your medical records and access them online. From prescriptions, and diagonistic reports to discharge summaries — you can store all the details in the ABHA account using your unique ID. “Any individual can enrol in Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) to generate a Health ID or ABHA, free of cost,” the ministry said in a release on April 4, 2024. ABHA creates a system of personal health records that is easily accessible to individuals, healthcare professionals, and service providers based on an individual’s informed consent, the ministry noted.
Mandatory linking of ABHA numbers with CGHS IDs: How is it going to benefit the central govt employees?
Linking CGHS beneficiary IDs with ABHA numbers will allow central government employees to access their health records on their mobile phones, thus saving money spent on repeating tests. A CGHS beneficiary will be able to view the generated and linked health records in any of his/her preferred Personal Health Record (PHR) apps downloaded on the mobile device.
Moreover, a CGHS beneficiary will be able to carry forward his/her health records from one hospital/ healthcare provider to another in a digitally secured way.
For instance, a central government employee goes to a hospital for treatment. For his follow-up treatment, the said patient has to go to some other doctor. It will be easier for both the doctor and the patient if the record of his past treatment is stored in one place and immediately available to the current doctor. A unique health ID identifies all the health records across all the healthcare providers and stores them in one place. With the patient’s consent, these records are made available to the current healthcare provider.
In the future, a CGHS beneficiary will be able to make an OPD appointment with a doctor by scanning a QR code through his/her mobile device present in front of the doctor’s room/registration desk in the wellness centre.
ABHA is the Aadhaar of healthcare ecosystem
ABHA is a proxy of Aadhaar in the sphere of health.”The need for ABHA arose because Aadhaar details cannot be saved on systems without implementing Aadhaar vault and other security systems,” the ministry added.
“The government doesn’t have any ulterior motive to hide nor does it need to. ABHA will eventually apply to all Indian citizens at every health facility,” it clarified.
