SRINAGAR, OCT 28: In a significant move toward digitalising healthcare services, the Jammu and Kashmir Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) has initiated the online issuance of OPD tickets.
This new OPD ticketing system allows patients to book their OPD appointments from the comfort of their homes. To obtain a ticket, individuals will need to scan the QR code of the healthcare facility, and the generated token will be valid for 12 hours. Within this time frame, citizens must physically visit the hospital or healthcare facility. Notably, a citizen cannot apply for a token more than once within 30 minutes of issuance.
This people-friendly initiative has been met with relief from the citizens of J&K, as it promises to alleviate the hardships of waiting in long queues at hospitals. The system will be further expanded to include digital doctor consultations. The QR codes for all healthcare institutions will be accessible on the official website of Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, J&K, at abdmjk.in.
The National Health Authority is also actively working on integrating UPI Payment Gateways within the ABDM ecosystem, enabling citizens to pay hospital fees and charges online where applicable.
The Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission ecosystem is set to integrate all citizens’ health records into a vertical health repository, which will be governed by a consent manager. This will enable the storage and sharing of health records with healthcare providers through a consent-based mechanism. Importantly, health data will not be stored by the government but in a federated structure, making it accessible through various platforms, including government and private healthcare institutions nationwide.
The envisioned digital healthcare delivery model is expected to create a paperless, seamless, transparent, and accountable healthcare system across the country. This will be achieved through a network of verified healthcare facilities listed on the Health Facility Registry (HFR) of the ABDM and verified healthcare professionals in the Health Professionals Registry (HPR). To participate in the ABDM ecosystem, citizens will need to create a 14-digit unique health identity called ABHA (Ayushman Bharat Health Account), marking the first step in their digital healthcare journey.
Bhupinder Kumar, Secretary of Health and Medical Education, emphasized that the Ayushman Bharat digital health structure in J&K aims to enhance the delivery of healthcare services across the region, ensuring a more straightforward experience for patients and their attendants.
Additionally, Shafqat Khan, Additional Mission Director of ABDM in J&K, highlighted that the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission has already been implemented in 117 healthcare institutions across the state and is set to cover 576 more. The necessary HMIS software (E-Sahaj) will be installed, and the process of gathering electronic medical records will begin from Primary Healthcare Centers/Health and Wellness Centers to Tertiary Care Hospitals.
Meanwhile, 100% of government health facilities have already been registered, and 82% of public healthcare professionals, including doctors and nurses, are also registered. The registration of private healthcare facilities is progressing at a rapid pace.
