Unique Digital Health ID card: How to register, unique health ID, PHR address, documents required and other benefits

Here is all you need to know about the registration, health ID, PHR address, documents and other benefits related to the Unique Digital Health ID.

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The Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to bring a change to the country’s healthcare system. This initiative includes the unique health ID for every citizen and the digital health solutions of hospitals across India making the process of hospitals simplified. The health record of the citizens of India will be recorded and projected digitally.

As per the official website of the National Health Authority, Health ID is the first initial step to create safe and efficient digital health records for the citizens of India. The health card will ensure access to the digital records of the person and his or her family. The health card will allow the citizen to access and share the health data with their consent, getting involved with the healthcare providers and payers. In case of queries, the user can visit the official website of the National Health Authority at healthid.ndhm.gov.in.

What is a digital health ID?

The digital health ID is a randomly generated 14-digit number that serves three purposes: unique authentication, authentication, and threading of the beneficiary’s health records. This record will only be accessible with the informed consent of the beneficiary across multiple systems and stakeholders.

The user can get a health ID by self-registration on the website provided online or downloading the ABMD health records app on their mobile phones.

How can you request the creation of a health ID?

A citizen can create a health ID by participating in a health facility that involves both government or private hospitals, community health centres, and government wellness centres available across India.

What are Personal Health Records (PHR)?

The person with the Health ID also needs to set up a Personal Health Records (PHR) address for consent management and for sharing of health records in the future. PHR is a simple version of a self-declared username that allows the beneficiary to sign the Information Exchange and Consent Manager (HIE-CM). HIE-CM is an application that deals with the sharing and linking of health records. The health ID needs to be linked to a consent manager to enable the sharing of the date of health records for the user. Currently, the person can use the health ID to sign up for the HIE-CM where multiple consent managers are available for patients in the year ahead.

Documents required to register for the health ID

At present, ABDM supports the forming of health IDs through Aadhaar or mobile phones. Further, it will support PAN and driving licenses to create the health ID in the future.

The individual for the creation of the health ID needs to share the name, year of birth, gender, address, mobile number/ Aadhaar. You can also provide your mobile number for registration if you don’t provide your Aadhaar details.

How to get a health ID card if a mobile number is not linked with Aadhaar

If you choose an Aadhaar number, then an OTP will be generated and sent to the mobile number that is linked to Aadhaar. If your mobile number is not linked with Aadhaar, the beneficiary can visit the facility centre and use biometric authentication using an Aadhaar number. After the authentication is completed, the health ID will be successfully generated.

Facilities available to the beneficiaries

The digital health card records the details of the patient from treatment to discharge. You can also link your personal health records with your health ID to have a longitudinal health history.

Are personal health records secured?

According to NHA, the ABDM doesn’t store any health records related to the beneficiary. Based on the retention policies of the information on the ABDM network, it is with the encryption mechanism which is allowed only with the consent of the beneficiary.

How to exit and delete health ID?

• Users can permanently delete their health ID.
• You can also deactivate your ID temporarily.

Once you delete your unique health ID, all your details including demographics will be removed. And the beneficiary will never be able to retrieve the information based on the health ID and cannot access the ABDM applications or any health records on the ABDM network will be completely removed.

Upcoming features of the unique health ID card

The new features will include doctors’ access to be verified across India.

In the future, the health ID will also include the beneficiary’s child and the health records since birth.

The user can also add a nominee to access the health ID and manage the personal health records.

There will also be a health ID that will provide inclusive access via assistance methods to people who don’t have phones.

Benefits of digital health ID card

It will help the user to receive lab reports, prescriptions, and diagnoses digitally from verified doctors and health service providers.

Health ID also provides the user with searching for doctors and specialists at their nearby location.

The identification of labs and drug stores will be easily identified through this platform.