NMC calls for implementation of ABDM at all medical colleges, patient registration through ABHA ID only

New Delhi: Taking another step towards digitalisation of the healthcare system across India, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has expressed its plans to ensure that all the patients getting treated in medical colleges are registered through a unique ABHA ID.

Issuing a recent circular to the medical colleges across the country, the Apex Medical Commission has encouraged on the use of ABHA ID pointing out that this process through the Health Management Information System (HMIS) will provide reliable data on the clinical material available in each college to train undergraduate and postgraduate medical students.

The decision in this regard was taken by the Apex Medical Commission in its 11th meeting held on 18.10.2023. Referring to this, NMC mentioned in the circular, "The National Medical Commission, in its 11 th meeting held on 18-10-2023, took a decision that patients seen in the medical college hospitals should be encouraged to register through a unique ABHA ID. This process through the HMIS data provides reliable data on the clinical material available in each college for the purpose of UG/PG training."

NMC further opined that "The digital documentation of clinical material goes a long way in making assessment valid and also aid in the rating procedures."

Therefore, in this regard, the Apex Medical Commission has directed all the medical colleges to ensure an appropriate infrastructure in their hospitals to facilitate ABHA ID generation to the patients. In this regard, the circular added, "Therefore, all colleges should provide an appropriate infrastructure in their hospitals to facilitate ABHA ID generation to the patients seeking help in that hospital. It may be noted that the conditions that govern ABHA ID registration prevail over this notice."

Also Read: Medical Colleges that do not have HMIS should start HMIS by 10th October: NMC

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that NMC had released guidelines and user manual for the Implementation of AEBAS, HMS in institutes and Connecting CCTV feed to Command and Control Center at NMC. In this regard, the Commission had directed the medical colleges to submit the info in the google form.

Last year, the Commission reminded the medical colleges about the mandatory implementation of the HMIS and NMC once again wrote to the heads of the medical colleges directing them to comply with the directions.

NMC had clarified back then, "The Medical Colleges who do not have HMIS are directed to start the HMIS in their MCH/s by 10th October, 2022 without failure."

The Commission's efforts towards digitalisation of the healthcare system was seen earlier this year also when NMC had announced its decision to have a National Medical Register for all registered medical practitioners back in May this year. The Commission had published the "Registration of Medical Practitioners and Licence to Practice Medicine Regulations" in the Gazette of India on May 10, 2023.

Replacing the existing Indian Medical Register (IMR), the new National Medical Register will ensure that each of the doctors in India has a Unique ID and registration number that would be linked to their Aadhar numbers.

To view the NMC circular on ABHA ID, click on the link below:

https://medicaldialogues.in/pdf_upload/nmc-abha-id-226171.pdf

Also Read: One Doctor, One Registration: How the National Medical Register will remove duplication of state medical council registrations