Health ยท GS2
Ayushman Bharat Health Accounts
One line
The Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission crossed 90 crore Ayushman Bharat Health Accounts, which are intended to let people link and share health records with consent.
Summary
ABHA is a 14-digit digital health identity and a building block of ABDM. It can support continuity of care across providers, but an account count measures registration, not the quality, completeness, or actual use of linked records.
PYQ pattern
UPSC governance questions often test digital public infrastructure through identity, interoperability, privacy, and exclusion. Use the official UPSC archive and separate registration numbers from service outcomes.
Core notes
- Interoperability allows different health facilities and applications to exchange data through common standards.
- Longitudinal records can help a clinician see a patient's history across visits, subject to consent and data quality.
- Consent should be informed, specific, revocable where appropriate, and supported by clear explanations.
- Digital health needs privacy, cybersecurity, accessibility, correction rights, and non-digital alternatives.
Prelims lens
- ABHA is part of ABDM. It is not the same as a health-insurance entitlement under PM-JAY.
- Account creation is an output. Continuity of care is an outcome that needs use and quality.
- Consent-based sharing is different from unrestricted public disclosure.
MCQ 1
ABHA is intended to:
- Provide a digital health identity.
- Support consent-based linking and sharing of health records.
- A. 1 only
- B. 2 only
- C. Both 1 and 2
- D. Neither 1 nor 2
Reveal answerHide answer
C
These are core purposes described in the PIB release on ABDM and ABHA.
MCQ 2
Which statement is correct?
- A. The number of ABHAs alone proves that every person receives continuous care.
- B. Interoperability concerns exchange of information across compatible systems.
- C. ABHA is a monetary policy instrument.
- D. Consent is irrelevant to digital health records.
Reveal answerHide answer
B
Interoperability enables compatible systems to exchange data. Account numbers do not by themselves prove care quality or continuity.
Mains
Question, 10 marks, 150 words: How can digital health identities improve continuity of care while protecting patient autonomy and privacy?
Approach:
- Define ABHA, ABDM, interoperability, and consent.
- Explain portable records, referrals, research, and reduced paperwork.
- Discuss privacy, cyber risk, data quality, exclusion, commercial misuse, and correction rights.
- Recommend privacy-by-design, clear consent dashboards, audits, accessibility, and non-digital alternatives.