GUWAHATI: Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) has requested patients to bring their Aadhaar card with them for generating their Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) IDs.
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According to Achyut Baishya, principal of GMCH, the move aligns with the National Medical Commission (NMC) directive requiring outpatient department (OPD) registrations exclusively through ABHA IDs. “NMC has stipulated that they shall exclusively consider OPD registrations processed through ABHA ID,” he reportedly stated, adding that GMCH staff are actively assisting in the creation of ABHA IDs for those who need them.
However, Baishya also clarified that while Aadhaar cards are requested, patients arriving without Aadhaar or ABHA IDs will still receive treatment at GMCH. “ABHA ID registration enables seamless access to patient histories for doctors across hospitals. When patients visit different facilities, doctors can readily access their previous treatment and health records,” he clarified.
The NMC has demanded a minimum of 1,600 daily OPD registrations for GMCH, and adherence to ABHA-based registrations is expected to address OPD data accuracy, particularly for medical student training.
Overall, this government-mandated initiative aims to streamline treatment procedures by providing physicians with digital access to patients' medical histories across different healthcare facilities, whether government or private.