A unified health ecosystem in India: exploring the Ayushman Bharat digital mission

Abstract

The Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) represents a transformative initiative aimed at revolutionizing healthcare delivery in India through digitizing health records and establishing an integrated digital health infrastructure. This mission addresses critical challenges in the healthcare system by providing a robust information backbone for healthcare providers, which simplifies the processes of tracking, accessing and updating patient data. By eliminating duplication and reducing errors in data collection, ABDM enhances efficiency and improves the quality of care provided to patients. Patients are empowered to create a Health ID, enabling them to share their medical records seamlessly with healthcare providers. This includes comprehensive details such as doctor appointments, diagnoses, treatments, hospitalizations and medications, ensuring that patients have access to high-quality healthcare. The integration of medical records into a single digital system not only simplifies care coordination but also reduces wait times, standardizes treatments and lowers overall healthcare costs. Furthermore, the digitization of health records allows healthcare providers to deliver more personalised and timely care, as instant access to a patient's medical history significantly improves diagnosis accuracy and treatment outcomes. The ABDM holds immense potential for enhancing the effectiveness, efficiency and transparency of health service delivery in India, ultimately promising a future where every citizen can access their health information within a unified digital health ecosystem.