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How does ABHA Card Work?

Team AckoFeb 2, 2024

Medical treatment is so important. Many Indians can’t access healthcare because of costly medical expenses. Because of the complex healthcare system and varying literacy rates, India has difficulty maintaining medical records. What can be done about it? Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) may be the solution. It is a vital cog of the Digital India campaign.

This programme addresses the challenges associated with the conventional paper-based approach and represents a significant step towards digitising healthcare records and enhancing accessibility to medical history. 

Here we will discuss key aspects of this initiative and how ABHA card works.

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Contents

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What is an ABHA Health Card?

ABHA number has 14 digits and identifies you as a member of India’s digital healthcare ecosystem. It helps you to share your healthcare records throughout this ecosystem.

When you are learning about how does ABHA card work, you must remember that you can link your medical records even from private healthcare facilities, provided they are willing to do so. Thus, the scope of the ABHA health number is not limited to government schemes and hospitals.

ABHA Health Card Use 

If one wants to answer how does ABHA card work, one must first ask why it had to be introduced.

As per the government, the healthcare ecosystem in India is tremendously fragmented. It has several players and standards in place. This makes it difficult to share and use information unless everyone is using the same standards and is part of the same ecosystem. Thus, digitisation of the ecosystem sought to provide an interconnected and interoperable space where a unique number could identify all the medical details of a patient. This reduces the hassle of remembering and maintaining physical copies of any data. Thus enhancing the quality of life and simplifying the ease of access to healthcare is the major use of ABHA health card.

ABHA Health Card Benefits

The digital health ecosystem offers several benefits to Indians. Some of them are as follows.

Unique & Trustable Identity

You will have a unique identity with which you can access different healthcare providers across the healthcare ecosystem. This gives it a pan-India character and allows you to access healthcare throughout the country.

Unified Benefits

All the health and insurance schemes you avail of will be linked to your ABHA number. This will make access to schemes hassle-free. You will not have to maintain separate records for different schemes you are enrolled in.

Easily Sign Up for Personal Health Records (PHR) Apps

The ABDM covers several important PHR applications such as Arogya Setu and Driefcase. With an ABHA ID, you can seamlessly sign up for PHR applications to share your health data.

Paperless Health Records

With the ABDM, your health records such as prescriptions, diagnostic reports, and discharge summaries can be accessed online. Thus patients don’t run the risk of losing them and can share them with their consent.

How to Apply For an ABHA Card

You can create your ABHA number and address online as well as offline. Here’s how to do it.

By Using ACKO App

Here’s how you can get your ABHA ID directly from your smartphone.

  1. Download thе ACKO app from thе Play Storе or App Storе if you don’t have it on your phone.

  2. Enter your phonе numbеr to receive the OTP. This will help you to log in.

  3. Tap on “Discover” at the bottom right corner of the screen. 

  4. Select “Get Started” and click on “Create ABHA number”.

  5. If you want, you can tap the “Create” option to add other members to your ABHA health card.

  6. Enter important details like your mobile number and Aadhaar number.

After the process is completed, your ABHA number will be generated. 

By Visiting Official Website

Here’s how you can create your ABHA ID by visiting the official website.

  1. Visit the official website for the creation of ABHA ID.

  2. Click on “Create ABHA Number”.

  3. You will be taken to a new page where you will be presented with two options: “Create your ABHA number using Aadhaar" and “Create your ABHA number using Driving Licence”.

  4. Select the option you want. In this guide, we will assume that you want to use your Aadhaar number to create your ABHA number. 

  5. Enter your Aadhaar number.

  6. After that an OTP will be sent to your registered phone number for authentication.

  7. Your ABHA ID details will be created from your Aadhaar information.

  8. You can download your ABHA card after confirming the information.

If you want to create your ABHA ID using your driver’s licence, then you will only receive your enrollment number on the portal. Then, you will have to visit your nearest ABDM participating facility with your driving licence for verification. After that, you will get your ABHA number.

By Using ABHA App

Here’s how you can create your ABHA ID using the official ABHA App.

  1. Download the official ABHA app from the Play Store or the App Store.

  2. Tap on “Create Now”.

  3. Select the “Create your ABHA Number” checkbox and tap on “Continue”.

  4. Enter your Aadhaar number and select the “I agree” checkbox.

  5. Tap on “Next”.

  6. An option to create your Aadhaar using OTP will be visible.

  7. The OTP will be sent to the mobile number. Enter it.

  8. Set up your ABHA address to create your ABHA ID.

By Visiting a Health Facility

Here’s how you can create your ABHA ID offline.

  1. You can search for your nearest facility from the official website.

  2. Visit the facility with your Aadhaar card.

  3. Provide your demographic details and complete the formalities.

Your ABHA ID will be created after the process is complete.

Wrapping up!

In this article, we have covered various aspects of how does ABHA card work. The idea behind it is to make healthcare access easy. It can make the process free of any hassles.

Pairing the ABHA card with a health insurance package can prove to be a beneficial combination. Just imagine how wonderful it would be if you could visit a health facility and not have to worry about the expenses! This is what insurance promises.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Common queries about the ABHA ID are addressed below:

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How does the ABHA card operate?

The ABHA ID, a unique 14-digit identifier, facilitates online access to your complete medical history. It eliminates the need to remember and document all medical expenses and treatments, fostering a digital healthcare ecosystem for seamless healthcare access across India.

How do I enrol for the ABHA ID?

Use the ACKO app for easy and quick enrollment.

How is ABHA ID connected with Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY)?

The ABHA number serves to compile your medical history and does not confer eligibility for PM-JAY coverage.

Is there an app for the ABHA number?

Yes, you can download the official ABHA app from the Play Store or the App Store. You can get your ABHA ID from the app.

Is there any fee for the ABHA number?

No, you don’t need to pay any fee for the ABHA registration.

Can ABHA be used in private hospitals?

Yes, it can be used provided the hospital is willing to use it.

Is it compulsory to get an ABHA ID?

No, it is not compulsory to register for the ABHA ID.

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