How can a patient benefit from ABHA?
To enjoy the perks of ABHA as a patient, you need to first register on the platform. You can do so by visiting the official ABDM website or your nearby registration facility. All you need is your Aadhar or driver’s licence and a valid phone number.
Now that you have an ABHA ID, here are the advantages you can enjoy:
Problem: When visiting the doctor’s clinic, arranging all the necessary documents is a hassle. It is a big challenge for parents, who have to constantly update the vaccination records of their children. It is also a challenge for the elderly to store all their medical records. Additionally, losing medical records can be a significant setback since there is no way of retrieving them.
Solution: ABHA here steps in as a solution, offering a digital repository that stores all medical records safely. It also allows users to share this information with relevant healthcare providers. This means that your choice of doctor can have access to your entire medical history without the hassle of paperwork.
Now, parents don’t have to worry about keeping the vaccination record of their child updated, since it is available on ABHA ID. Senior citizens, as well, don’t have to worry about remembering the right place to keep records as ABHA works as one true, reliable repository,
Problem: The ABDM scheme offers health insurance of up to INR 5 lakhs to the country's underprivileged. However, keeping track of this fund is a challenge. There have been many instances of people being scammed and not provided the funds they are entitled to.
Solution: With ABHA, the beneficiaries of the scheme can track their funds and maintain them safely. ABHA manages the allotment and disbursement of funds, which means by getting a registration ID, users can find a detailed breakdown of where the fund has been invested.
Apart from this, beneficiaries can also make cashless transactions with ABHA. As a beneficiary, you need to scan the QR code at any of the empanelled healthcare institutes and pay from the health insurance fund. This is a big advantage.
Problem: There are chances that patients may encounter situations where they are overcharged for treatments or medications they didn’t use. Or, they may receive inappropriate treatment, which could compromise their well-being.
Solution: ABHA makes quality healthcare more accessible for all its registered users. With all medical records available on the ABHA app, it promotes accountability and transparency in the healthcare system. By using electronic records and digital transactions, it lowers the chances of potential malpractice or misuse.
Problem: A large part of the Indian population lives in areas where there is no proper healthcare infrastructure. People have to travel to the nearest city to get proper treatment. Moreover, senior citizens are suffering the most because of this—having to travel miles before finding decent medical care.
Solution: ABHA users have access to a list of the top-notch healthcare institutes in the country—both public and private. This makes it easy to book an appointment with any healthcare provider empanelled on the list.
As an ABHA registered patient, now you don’t have to wait hours to just get an appointment. You can schedule it using the ABHA app and visit the healthcare institute. This will reduce the hassle of standing in queues for hours before getting a chance to see the doctor.
Problem: Many patients have struggled with the consequences of a wrong diagnosis, often because their healthcare provider didn’t have access to complete and accurate medical information.
Solution: ABHA generates data-driven insights with the available patient data. These insights are very helpful for doctors to identify trends, understand the issue and recognise underlying conditions. These insights have the potential to increase medical accuracy and reduce the chances of errors.
With access to the entire medical history of a patient, the doctor can refer back to any medical document that they might need. This helps in identifying if the illness is caused due to any previous treatment or medication.
Problem: People suffering from chronic illness require constant monitoring. However, this becomes a problem if the healthcare provider lives far away. For people who have to constantly move for work, this is a challenge.
Solution: ABHA facilitates real-time monitoring. You can now share all your medical records with your healthcare provider, and they can track it from a distance. Now, you don’t have to find a doctor every time you move. It also opens the possibility for people to get treatment from top-notch doctors in a different city or state, mitigating the hassle of travelling long distances for every check-up.
Conclusion
ABHA has been created with the idea of strengthening the healthcare system of India. Registering on the platform will provide you with many advantages. As a patient, it's a win-win situation. You can create your ABHA ID free of cost and avail the benefits it has to offer.
Apart from this, ABHA also suggests some alternative forms of treatment—yoga, meditation, etc., which can be beneficial as well. These services are also available through the ABHA portal.
Considering so many perks, all Indian citizens must create an ABHA ID to reap the benefits and become a part of the revolutionary expansion of the Indian healthcare landscape.
FAQs
1. Where can I get my ABHA card?
ABHA ID holders can download their e-cards from the ABHA application. You can also do it by signing in to the official website.
2. My Aadhaar is not linked to my mobile number. Can I create an ABHA ID?
You can register on ABHA using your Aadhaar or driver’s licence. If you want to use your Aadhaar, your mobile number has to be linked with it. This is because, when signing up, you will be sent an OTP on the number to confirm your identity.
3. Is every ABHA user offered health insurance?
All ABHA users are not offered health insurance. Only people eligible under the insurance scheme can avail of this benefit. However, even if a person is not eligible, they can link their third-party health insurance with their ABHA ID to simplify claim processing.
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