India has launched a free digital platform, e-Sushrut@Clinic, to help small and mid-sized clinics modernise their operations and integrate with the national digital health ecosystem. The platform has been developed under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) and is being implemented by the National Health Authority in collaboration with the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC).
The solution aims to digitise routine clinic processes such as patient registration, electronic health records, appointment management, billing, e-prescriptions, and teleconsultations. It also supports the creation and updating of Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) IDs, enabling seamless integration with the broader ABDM network.
By offering a no-cost, standards-based software system, the government seeks to lower financial and technical barriers that have prevented many smaller clinics from adopting commercial management software. Officials believe the move will improve continuity of care by allowing interoperable health records to be securely shared across hospitals, laboratories, and diagnostic centres connected to ABDM.
The initiative is also expected to aid data-driven policymaking, as anonymised and aggregated data from participating clinics can provide valuable insights into disease trends and healthcare utilisation at the primary and secondary levels.
While industry stakeholders have welcomed the platform as a major step towards formalising India’s fragmented outpatient sector, they note that its effectiveness will depend on adequate training, on-ground support, and reliable internet connectivity, especially in semi-urban and rural areas. If successfully implemented, e-Sushrut@Clinic could significantly strengthen the country’s digital health backbone.
