Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Under the ABDM, citizens will be able to create their Ayushman Bharat Health Account numbers, to which their digital health records can be linked, the statement said
The Union Cabinet on Saturday approved the nationwide roll-out of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) with a budget of Rs 1,600 crore for five years, according to an official statement.
The National Health Authority (NHA) will be the implementing agency of the central sector scheme.
Under the ABDM, citizens will be able to create their Ayushman Bharat Health Account numbers, to which their digital health records can be linked, the statement said.
This will enable creation of longitudinal health records for individuals and improve clinical decision making by healthcare providers, it stated.
It will improve equitable access to quality healthcare by encouraging use of technologies such as telemedicine and enabling national portability of health services.
Digital health solutions across healthcare ecosystem have proven to be of immense benefit over the years, with CoWIN, Arogya Setu and eSanjeevani further demonstrating the role technology can play in enabling access to healthcare.
However, there is a need to integrate such solutions for continuum of care, and effective utilisation of resources, the statement said.
Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Saturday thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for approving the implementation of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission with a budget of Rs 1,600 crore for five years and said that the Ayushman Bharat Health Count Number (ABHA Number) will strengthen the digital health ecosystem in India.
Taking to Twitter, the Mandaviya said, “Ayushman Bharat Health Count Number (ABHA Number) will strengthen the digital health ecosystem in the country. Now the citizens will be able to access their health records anywhere in a digital way,” he added. As per the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), the National Health Authority (NHA) will be the implementing agency of Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM).
Modi on Saturday said that in order to strengthen the primary healthcare network, work on 1.5 lakh Health and Wellness Centers is also progressing at a brisk pace.
He further said that till now more than 85,000 centers are providing the facility of routine checkups, vaccination, and tests. In this budget, the facility of mental healthcare has also been added to them, he added.
The Prime Minister’s remarks came at the post-Union Budget webinar of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. This is the fifth webinar in the series of post-budget webinars addressed by the Prime Minister. Union Ministers, healthcare professionals from public and private sectors, and professionals from para-medics, nursing, health management, technology, and research were present on the occasion.
“We have adopted a holistic approach in our healthcare system. Today our focus is not only on health but equally on wellness”, he emphasized.
The Prime Minister elaborated on three factors that underline the efforts of making the health sector holistic and inclusive. Firstly, the expansion of modern medical science-related infrastructure and human resources. Secondly, promotion of research in the traditional Indian medical systems like Ayush and their active engagement in the healthcare system. Thirdly, providing affordable healthcare to every citizen and every region of the country via modern and futuristic technology.
“It is our endeavor that critical healthcare facilities should be at the block level, at the district level, near the villages. This infrastructure needs to be maintained and upgraded from time to time. For this the private sector and other sectors will also have to come forward with more energy”, he added. On enhancing the medical human resources, the Prime Minister said,
“As the demand for healthcare services is increasing, we are also trying to create skilled health professionals accordingly. Therefore, a significant hike is made in the budget for health education and human resource development related to healthcare as compared to last year.”
“With this, both getting and giving treatment in the country will become very easy. Not only this, it will also facilitate global access to India’s quality and affordable healthcare system”, said the Prime Minister about the benefits of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Health Mission.
The Prime Minister dwelled on the positive role of remote healthcare and telemedicine during the pandemic. He stressed the role of these technologies in reducing the health access divide between urban and rural India.
Mentioning the upcoming 5G network and optical fiber network project for every village, the Prime Minister asked the Private sectors to come forward to increase their partnership. He also emphasized the promotion of drone technology for medical purposes.
The Prime Minister noted the growing global acceptance of Ayush and exuded pride in the fact that WHO is going to start its only Global Center of Traditional Medicine in India. “Now it is up to all of us how to create better solutions of AYUSH for ourselves and for the world as well”, he added.
Based on the foundations laid down in the form of Jan Dhan, Aadhaar and Mobile (JAM) trinity and other digital initiatives of the government, Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) is creating a seamless online platform through the provision of a wide-range of data, information and infrastructure services, duly leveraging open, interoperable, standards-based digital systems while ensuring the security, confidentiality and privacy of health-related personal information.
The pilot of ABDM was completed in the six Union Territories of Ladakh, Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Puducherry, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep with successful demonstration of technology platform developed by the NHA, the statement said.
During the pilot, digital sandbox was created in which more than 774 partner solutions are undergoing integration. As on February 24 this year, 17,33,69,087 Ayushman Bharat Health Accounts have been created and 10,114 doctors and 17,319 health facilities have been registered in ABDM.
Not only will ABDM facilitate evidence-based decision making for effective public health interventions, but it will also catalyse innovation and generate employment across the healthcare ecosystem, the statement added.
Meanwhile,in his valedictory address at the post-Union Budget webinar of the Ministry of Health, Mandaviya said telemedicine and the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission will rightly propel India towards a revolution in the healthcare sector.
India is strongly poised to implement the framework of ”Total Health and One Health” through its focussed, integrative and holistic policies, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said on Saturday.
Today, India is the leading country in the world to have created more than 17 crore health IDs, the highest number globally, he stated.
Teleconsultation is a revolution and it is providing expert healthcare services even in the remotest of the areas, the minister said.
He noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for a holistic healthcare has guided the integration of various healthcare platforms.
”Today’s brainstorming sessions with all stakeholders will help to create a well-defined blueprint for timely action for citizen-centric policies and output-based programmes,” Mandaviya said.
The consultation with private companies and non-government organisations, including experts and health sector stakeholders, through deep discussions is a step in enriching the policies, initiatives and actions of the ministry, he added.
”India is strongly poised to implement the framework of ‘Total Health and One Health’ through its focussed, integrative and holistic policies,” Mandaviya said.
Ayurveda and mental health form a vital part of ”total health” and should be extended through telemedicine services, he added.
With the new approach to early Union Budget presentation, funds allocation and programme implementation can now be started in a much timely manner, leading to a timely spending of the allocated funds, he stressed.