What is an ABHA Card?
ABHA, or Ayushman Bharat Health Account, is a 14-digit unique identification number that grants access to a digital repository containing an individual’s complete medical history, prescriptions, and consultation details. This digital storage acts as one true source of information for all your medical records.
The ABHA digital card was incorporated under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission program introduced by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in 2021. Since then, 50 crore individuals are already a part of this expanding healthcare revolution.
What is the Purpose of Creating an ABHA ID?
As an Indian citizen, you can enjoy a plethora of healthcare benefits by signing up for the healthcare ecosystem through ABHA registration.
It doesn’t matter if you’re seeking immediate aid, just catching up with the digitization, or planning to take advantage of it in the future. With ABHA, you can enjoy various benefits. Some of these are listed below.
Telemedicine and Online Consultation
Your ABHA health card enables you to access online consultations. It enables you to receive medical advice at home without having to physically contact medical professionals.
Security and Consent
Privacy and consent are major factors when it comes to digital assistance these days. ABHA follows strict government regulations that forbid it from sharing an individual’s health records without their consent.
ABHA ID cards are encrypted and have a high level of security. Thanks to these strict regulations, the chances of your medical history/data leaks through the ABHA application are close to none.
The Digital Footprint
Another important aspect of creating an ABHA card is creating a digital record of an individual. With an ABHA card, individuals are guaranteed the best treatment as their medical records can be shared with various healthcare professionals, who can provide appropriate medical care (only with consent).
If you’re registering for an ABHA card, it is better to familiarize yourself with its functions and how you can generate an ABHA ID yourself.
Seamless Access to Medical Assistance Data
With an ABHA health ID card, you can access all your medical data seamlessly. Even if you’re located in a different city or state, all healthcare data is just an ABHA app away. All you need is your unique ABHA health ID, and you can access your records all over India.
Child ABHA
The government has also made ABHA accessible for children. You can create your child’s ABHA digital card and keep track of their medical record right from birth. However, it’s still in its integration phase and will soon be available for your convenience.
Who is Eligible for an ABHA Card?
The ABHA card is available to all Indian citizens. However, the eligibility criteria for rural and urban areas highlight specific priority groups, especially those from economically weaker sections. These sections also have access to additional financial assistance under Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana.
Eligibility Criteria for Rural Users
- Households without an earning man or adult (16–59 years old).
- Households without a healthy adult but with one impaired member.
- Empty households between the ages of 16 and 59.
- Families without land that rely on physical labor to generate the majority of their income.
- Families living in a single room with mud, bamboo, grass, and other kutcha roofs and walls.
- Families that rely on manual scavenging for their livelihood.
Eligibility Criteria for Urban Users
- Gardeners, domestic helpers, and security personnel
- Rag pickers and beggars
- Cobblers and street sellers
- Craftspeople, tailors, and artists working from home
- Workers in sanitation, plumbing, and laundry
- Mason, mechanic, electrician, and assembler
- Workers in construction, painting, and welding
- Cart puller, coolie, conductor, rickshaw puller, and transport worker
- Restaurant servers, retail employees, delivery assistance, and peons
Documents Required for ABHA Card Registration
You can register for an ABHA card without providing a single hard copy of the required documents since the registration is a completely online process.
Required documents for registration:
- Aadhar Card
- A legitimate mobile number linked to an Aadhar card. (Necessary since it serves as proof of citizenship.)
- PAN number
- Driving License number
How to Use ABHA Health Card Benefits?
In order to use ABHA services, all you need to do is get your ABHA ID integrated into your concerned hospital’s patient management system. This will allow authorized healthcare professionals to get access to your medical history and suggest the best treatment plans that align with your condition.
Rest assured, not everyone can have access to your information. Only the ones that you grant access to can see your medical history, and you also have the option to revoke access as per your requirement.
FAQs
1. Can we use the ABHA card to pay for medical bills?
Yes, you can use an ABHA card to receive cashless medical care and hospital stays under the program. However, you can only avail of these features if you’re a beneficiary of the Ayushman Bharat Health Account.
2. What is the cost of getting an ABHA card?
You can get an ABHA health card free of cost. All you need to do is register yourself or your family on the official ABHA portal, and you’ll get the ABHA ID free of cost. However, you have to pay for services individually if you need access to treatments that aren’t covered under the ABHA umbrella.
3. Can I find local medical facilities with my ABHA card?
Yes, you can. Your ABHA card comes with the Health Facility Registry (HFR), listing all private and public healthcare facilities all over India. You can easily locate local clinics, hospitals, and specialized services with your ABHA ID card.
4. Is it safe to give healthcare providers access to medical records?
Your ABHA ID card allows you full control over your data. It’s all up to you if you want to share your sensitive information or not. Medical practitioners can’t access your data if you’re unwilling. Your privacy and security are all in your hands.
An ISO 9001:2015 
