Health Tech Companies Team Up with Government to Shorten Hospital Queues
Numerous private health technology companies are partnering with the Indian government’s Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) to provide digital healthcare services and reduce patient waiting times at hospitals and clinics.
Among the companies collaborating with ABDM are Driefcase, Aarogya One, Bajaj Health, Practo, and Ambula Technologies. The National Health Authority (NHA), the implementing body for ABDM, has instructed all states and union territories to encourage citizens to adopt these applications.
One of the primary services facilitated by ABDM involves the faster registration of patients at Outpatient Departments (OPDs) through a ‘scan and share’ function based on the ABHA (Ayushman Bharat Health Account) QR code. Patients can now utilize any of the ABDM-integrated applications to share their profile with hospitals and physicians. The ‘scan and share’ feature is operational in over 18,000 healthcare facilities across all states and union territories.
The initiative aims to eliminate the inconvenience of long registration queues, diminish the potential for medical errors, ensure continuity of treatment, and do away with the need for physical prescriptions. Moreover, it supports the creation and maintenance of patient health records, empowering individuals to manage and share their health information with doctors, contingent upon patient consent.
The NHA has urged states and union territories to promote the utilization of these applications. The NHA stated in a communication to Mission Directors, “Certain private PHR (Personal Health Record) application companies are also offering support, including human resources, to assist patients with registration using the ABHA-based QR registration services.”
Abhinav Lal, co-founder and CTO of Practo, commented on the partnership: “By integrating with ABDM, patients can use the app to create their ABHA registration and utilize the benefits of the national digital health ecosystem. This will enable them to utilize features like Scan and Share, to identify facilities that fit their needs, facilitate informed decisions, and improve outcomes.”
He continued, “We believe that a strong partnership between private platforms and public initiatives is essential for building a robust and inclusive digital healthcare future for India.”
ABDM comprises three elements: the Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA), a digital health ID for each individual, and the Health Facility Registry (HFR).
The government’s Digital India initiative has given impetus to the digital health sector. With increasing internet access across the country, ABDM, launched in September 2021, is intended to promote equitable healthcare, thereby connecting those at the end of the line to inclusive, affordable, timely, and safe universal health coverage.
Requests for comment to Driefcase and health ministry spokespersons were unanswered. Contact could not be established with the other firms mentioned.
