what is ABHA cardA Detailed Beginner’s Guide to ABHA Card

We all know that collecting, maintaining, and storing past healthcare records is cumbersome. But what if all of it can be digitised? The Indian government has taken a massive step towards digitisation of the healthcare sector by providing unique health IDs to all citizens. Previously known as the Ayushman Bharat Health ID, the National Health Authority launched the ABHA health id card to create safer and more efficient digital healthcare records for all.

This health ID has plenty of benefits and can be incredibly helpful for people who frequently visit other cities for work purposes. If you are sceptical about getting an ABHA card, this exhaustive guide will solve all your doubts, helping you make informed decisions. So let’s quickly explore more about ABHA cards shared below.

What is ABHA Card?

Before getting into the specifics, let’s first understandwhat is ABHA card. Launched in 2021, the ABHA card is a unique health ID that can be used to store, manage, and share your healthcare records digitally. Each ABHA card features a unique 14-digit identification number that can be shared with clinics, doctors, hospitals, or other healthcare providers to share their medical history digitally. Every Indian citizen can get an ABHA card free of cost by registering online. The exact steps to register for an ABHA card have been shared below.

Steps to Create ABHA Card

People can create their ABHA card using their driving license, mobile number, or Aadhar card. Once you are ready with these, follow the below-mentioned steps to create your ABHA card.

• Visit the official government website (https://healthid.ndhm.gov.in/) and click ‘Create ABHA number.’
• Assuming you are using your Aadhar card to proceed, click on ‘Generate Via Aadha.’
• Enter your Aadhar number, scroll down to the bottom, and click ‘I agree.’
• Fill in the captcha and click on ‘Submit.’
• You will now receive one OTP on your Aadhar-linked mobile number.
• Enter the OTP and proceed.
• You will now be shown your personal details like name, gender, age, etc., that are linked to your Aadhar card.
• Go through the details and verify them before clicking ‘Submit.’
• You will have an option to create a 14-digit ABHA card number or ABHA card that looks like an email ID.
• Pick whatever you’re comfortable with, and proceed.
• You will now have the ABHA card generated within a few seconds.

Once the ABHA card is generated, you can download it online. If you are planning to use a driving license to create an ABHA card, you may have to visit a government centre for verification. Using an Aadhar card will be more convenient, so try creating your ABHA health ID using your Aadhar number. Now that you’ve understood what ABHA/PHR address means and the exact steps to get one. Let’s explore some reasons/benefits of getting an ABHA card.

Benefits of ABHA Card

You may be wondering if applying for an ABHA card is of any use and whether you should get one. This section will answer this query. To help you make the right, informed decision, we have shared below some of the top benefits of getting an ABHA card. Go through each and decide whether you want to avail of any of them.

• You can digitise all your previous healthcare records, like lab reports, prescriptions, hospital bills, etc., on a single digital platform. It will save you a lot from the hassle of maintaining physical copies of multiple prescriptions, diagnostic test reports, and more.
• If you frequently travel to different Indian cities for work purposes, you can find a verified doctor using the ABHA portal/app.
• People using any government public health benefit or scheme can directly link it to their ABHA number. It will make it easier to avail of the health ID benefits.
• ●       Since the ABHA card is part of the government initiative, you can be assured of the security provided by the platform. Your healthcare records will never be shared with any external or third party without obtaining your approval.
• A unique health ID can also make it easier for health insurance companies to verify your health records before approving your health insurance application.

These are some benefits people can enjoy using their ABHA card. Creating an ABHA card will be the best option if you want to streamline your healthcare records and make the storage, maintenance, and sharing part convenient.