New Delhi: Starting April 1, the Indian government mandated linking Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) beneficiary IDs with Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) IDs. This will create digital health IDs for CGHS beneficiaries and make storing their health records easier, potentially broadening their hospital options.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare announced through a press release that current CGHS beneficiaries must link their CGHS beneficiary ID with the ABHA ID within 30 days.
The CGHS has been delivering healthcare services to Central Government employees, pensioners, and their families in 75 cities nationwide, across all departments since its launch in 1954. Meanwhile, Ayushman Bharat, or PMJAY, provides up to Rs. 5 lakhs per family each year for secondary and tertiary medical care.
The government also launched the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) to improve the national digital health system. This initiative aims to create a platform to allow seamless sharing of health data, enabling the creation of long-term Electronic Health Records (EHR) for all citizens. The ABHA acts as a Unique Health Identifier, with more than 52.5 billion ABHA Numbers generated as of January 24, 2024.
