The National Health Authority (NHA) has recently embarked on a groundbreaking project that will revolutionize the Indian healthcare sector. Named “100 Microsites,” the initiative is designed to fuel the adoption of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) across the nation. Mizoram made history by becoming the first Indian state to activate an ABDM Microsite in its capital, Aizawl.
Understanding the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission
The Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, inaugurated in September 2021, is a flagship initiative of the Indian government aimed at enhancing the national digital health infrastructure. It was proposed and launched under the recommendations of the National Health Policy 2017, with a vision for Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
Defining ABDM Microsites
ABDM Microsites are regionally specific areas where outreach activities are undertaken, primarily to onboard small and medium-sized private healthcare institutions. The Microsite project is strategically designed to ensure all medical facilities, ranging from private clinics to small hospitals and labs, adopt ABDM and subsequently offer digitized health services to the wider population. To expedite the process, a designated agency will be responsible for communicating and coordinating with healthcare providers in the area.
Execution of ABDM Microsites
The State Mission Directors of ADHM primarily spearhead the implementation of the microsites, with financial and strategic support from the NHA. Throughout the transition, patients can expect access to digital services like e-appointments, e-prescriptions, e-bills, e-consent, referrals, and feedback. Medical records accumulated at such facilities will be integrated into their Ayushman Bharat Health Accounts, allowing patients to access and share records through any ABDM-enabled Personal Health Record application on mobile devices.
Current Progress towards Digitization
Mizoram’s successful activation of an ABDM Microsite marks a significant milestone in the chapter of healthcare digitization in India. Other states, including Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Chhattisgarh, have also commenced the implementation of ABDM Microsites in their respective regions, marking a progressive step towards achieving comprehensive healthcare digitization nationally.
Role of the National Health Authority
The National Health Authority (NHA) is the highest governing body responsible for the execution of India’s foremost public health insurance/assurance scheme, “Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana.” Entrusted with the task of crafting strategies, designing the technological framework, and implementing the “National Digital Health Mission,” the NHA is pivotal in creating a cohesive National Digital Health Ecosystem. It succeeded the National Health Agency and has been operating as a registered society since the 23rd of May 2018. The agency was later restructured into the National Health Authority on the 2nd of January 2019 to ensure complete functional autonomy.
