The National Medical Commission (NMC), sole regulatory body for medical education in the country, has made Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA)-ID mandatory for medical colleges across states and union territories.

The NMC in its public notice issued on 4 June has directed teaching hospitals to ensure ABHA ID as pre-requisites for registration of patients visiting for outdoor patient department (OPD), indoor patient department (IPD) and emergency services in hospitals attached to them.

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In West Bengal, the state government has not yet implemented the central government scheme Ayushman Bharat in its healthcare facilities.

N S Nigam, principal secretary in charge of health, was not available for comment in connection with the NMC’s mandatory directive to medical colleges ensuring ABHA-ID for patients.

“…All medical colleges must ensure ABHA-ID as a prerequisite for registration of patients visiting for the OPD/IPD/ emergency services in hospitals attached to them. All patients, OP and IP, must have registration done with the ABHA-ID in addition to the hospital’s registration number,” a public notice issued by the NMC on 4 June, stated.

“For decisions in the assessment for the academic 2025-26 and thereafter, the patients and related clinical material authenticated with ABHA ID will only be counted,” the notice said.

The NMC has endorsed a strong need to have authentication of patients and other clinical material in the hospital for decision on the prospects of a college (increased seats in UP and PG, new college, annual renewal of permission and recognition to admit students).

According to the notice, the creation of the ABHA-ID is a very simple process and can be facilitated conveniently with the procession of Aadhaar cards that has already been extended to people on a large scale.

However, no patient should be denied treatment without ABHA-ID directed to all medical colleges. A patient’s Abha number is a 14 digit identification number, aimed uniquely identifying them as a participant in the digital healthcare ecosystem. It acts as a one stop shop to store all the health records of a patient digitally.

In October 2023, the commission had decided to notify the medical colleges about encouraging patients to register through a unique ABHA-ID. “This process through the HMIS data provides reliable data on the clinical material available in each college for the purpose of UG/ PG training,” the commission said.