In order to facilitate quicker OPD registrations, the National Health Authority (NHA) launched the Scan & Share service in October 2022. As part of its flagship programme Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM). 365 hospitals have used the programme within five months after its inception. By significantly lowering wait times in the (Out Patient Department) OPD registration areas of the participating hospitals. The QR-code based fast registration service has helped over 5 lakh patients save time.
In places where patients register, participating hospitals (both public and private) show their specific QR codes. The patients can share their ABHA profile (demographic data like name, age, gender, and ABHA number) with the hospital’s Health Management Information System (HMIS) by scanning the QR code with any health application of their choice (such as ABHA App, Aarogya Setu App, EkaCare, DRiefcase, Bajaj Health, PayTM). As a result, quick token creation and paperless registration made possible. The health institution is able to maximise the requirement for resources allocated for registration while the patient saves time. Moreover, the patient’s medical history is digitally connect to their ABHA (Ayushman Bharat Health Account). Which they may control and access from any location at any time.
Speaking on the vision behind this service innovation, CEO, NHA said – “The Scan & share service is a typical example of how technology can be leveraged to provide better services to patients. And to improve the system efficiency. With increased adoption, patient registrations can made effortless, seamless and accurate. Our focus is to work closely with the stakeholders to maximize the impact of ABDM-enabled digital health services.”
Patients all around the nation are utilising the real-time advantages of the Scan & Share service. In addition to government hospitals, a number of private hospitals are allowing their patients to register via the ABHA. 125 districts in 25 States and UTs across the US now use the programme. The leading states in the adoption of this Scan & Share service for a better patient experience are Karnataka (2.5 lakh tokens), Uttar Pradesh (1.1 lakh users), and Delhi (70,000 users).
This week, the NHA also registered 2 lakh health institutions in the Health Facility Register. Including hospitals, clinics, diagnostic and imaging centres, pharmacies, etc (HFR). The HFR is a crucial component of ABDM that intends to act as a lone source of truth. For factual data about healthcare institutions all around the nation. Around 75% of the confirmed facilities are in the public sector. The top four states with the most health facilities on HFR are Karnataka (46,179), Uttar Pradesh (31,417), Maharashtra (13,789), and Andhra Pradesh (13,345).