Ayushman Bharat Health Account (1)

In Short

  • Effective April 1, the Ministry of Health mandates linking Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) beneficiary IDs with Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) IDs within 30 days.
  • This integration aims to establish a digital health identification system for CGHS beneficiaries and facilitate the storage of their digital health records, enhancing the accessibility of hospital options for patients.
  • CGHS, serving over 41 lakh beneficiaries in 75 cities, provides comprehensive healthcare to Central Government employees and pensioners, while Ayushman Bharat offers Rs. 5 lakhs coverage per family annually for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization.

In a significant move towards enhancing the digital healthcare ecosystem, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has announced mandatory linking of Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) beneficiary IDs with Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) IDs, effective April 1.

Under the directive, all existing CGHS beneficiaries are required to link their beneficiary IDs with the ABHA ID within a 30-day timeframe, as stated in a recent press release from the Ministry.

The integration of CGHS IDs with ABHA IDs is poised to revolutionize the healthcare landscape by facilitating the digital identification of CGHS beneficiaries and the seamless storage of their health records. Moreover, this initiative is expected to broaden the scope of hospital options available to patients, thereby enhancing accessibility and choice in healthcare services.

The CGHS, which has been operational since 1954, serves as a cornerstone in providing comprehensive healthcare to Central Government employees, pensioners, and their dependent family members across 75 cities, encompassing all facets of the democratic structure in India.

On the other hand, Ayushman Bharat, also known as Pradhan Mantri Jan ArogyaYojana (PMJAY), has been instrumental in providing substantial healthcare coverage, offering up to Rs. 5 lakhs per family annually for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization since its inception in 2018.

The ABHA, a critical component of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), serves as a Unique Health Identifier with a random 14-digit number. As of January 24, 2024, a staggering total of 52,50,15,110 ABHA Numbers have been generated, marking a significant stride towards achieving a national digital health ecosystem.

With the mandatory linking of CGHS and ABHA IDs, the government aims to streamline healthcare services, foster interoperability of health data, and pave the way for the creation of longitudinal Electronic Health Records (EHR) for every citizen, in alignment with the objectives of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission.

This proactive step underscores the government’s commitment to leveraging technology for the betterment of public health, ensuring equitable access to quality healthcare services for all citizens across the nation.


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