The National Medical Commission (NMC) has instructed all medical colleges across the country to integrate digital health records of patients and link them with the Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) ID system. The directive aims to make the annual assessment and renewal process for medical colleges more transparent, objective, and based on verified clinical data.
In a communication sent to the Deans and Principals of all NMC-recognized medical institutions, the Commission’s IT Division emphasized that generating and linking ABHA IDs for patients visiting Outpatient Departments (OPD), Inpatient Departments (IPD), and emergency services in teaching hospitals is now a key requirement under the Minimum Standard Requirements laid down by the regulator. By connecting patient records with ABHA IDs, the Commission will be able to accurately verify the number of patients treated in these hospitals, ensuring that the reported clinical workload reflects actual patient care rather than paperwork or unverified claims.
The move is intended to prevent misreporting of patient numbers and to strengthen the credibility of inspections and approvals of medical colleges. Real-time digital records will allow regulators to assess whether teaching hospitals are providing adequate clinical exposure and services required for medical education.
The National Health Authority (NHA), the nodal agency responsible for implementing the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), has also simplified the ABHA registration process to make it easier and more convenient for patients. Medical colleges have therefore been directed to adopt the updated process while integrating digital health records into their hospital management systems.
Under the revised system, patients can create an ABHA ID through an ABDM-enabled Hospital Management Information System (HMIS) using their Aadhaar number, with authentication completed via Aadhaar-linked mobile OTP or biometric verification. If a patient already has an ABHA ID linked to a mobile number, the hospital can retrieve the profile by searching the number and completing OTP verification.
Another option is the “Scan and Share” method, where patients who already have an ABHA ID can share their health details using any ABDM-enabled Personal Health Record (PHR) application. Hospitals generate a facility QR code through their HMIS, which the patient can scan to securely share their profile details digitally. This option requires the patient to have a smartphone.
Through these measures, the NMC aims to ensure that the evaluation of medical colleges is supported by authentic digital data while also strengthening the broader digital health ecosystem in India.
