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India’s Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission is revolutionizing healthcare with a secure, interoperable digital system that enhances accessibility, data portability, and patient-centered care, setting a global benchmark.

Technological advances are reshaping the fabric of modern life, and healthcare is at the forefront of this transformation. Bill Gates once observed that the worlds of information technology and medical innovation will redefine how we live within decades.

Gates told journalist Bill Moyers in 2003, “The two areas that are changing in this amazing way are information technology and medical technology. Those are the things that the world will be very different 20 years from now than it is today. I’m so excited about those advances. And they actually feed off of each other. The medical world uses the information tools to do their work. And so when you have those advances you think, ‘Will they be available to everyone? Will they not just be for the rich world or even just the rich people in the rich world? Will they be for the world at large?’”

This prediction is unfolding today as digital health technologies revolutionize global healthcare delivery, access, and management.

Nations worldwide are making strides in digital health. Denmark’s integrated health networks set a gold standard for patient safety and data security, and India’s Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) empowers citizens with unprecedented control over their health data.

Estonia, Canada, and Denmark lead the Digital Health Index, demonstrating policy and technology integration excellence. Meanwhile, Peru has streamlined healthcare services through interconnected systems, and the United States expanded telemedicine access by rethinking state licensing policies during the pandemic.

Not to be outdone, Saudi Arabia’s adoption of robotics is advancing precision and safety in care. A 2024 World Bank report highlights India and Indonesia as among the few nations leading ambitious digital health transformations. Their efforts are underpinned by visionary leadership and a commitment to integrating technology and data to build robust, resilient public health infrastructures.

India’s vast population and diverse socio-economic landscape make the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission a pivotal initiative. Born from the Digital India Campaign in 2015 and anchored by the National Health Policy 2017, ABDM is designed to bridge gaps in accessibility, affordability, and efficiency. The mission builds upon the National Digital Health Blueprint (NDHB) of 2019, which envisioned a seamless, interoperable digital healthcare ecosystem. Launched as the National Digital Health Mission in 2020 and later rebranded, ABDM has evolved into a nationwide program with a bold agenda: creating a secure, interoperable health information network to transform healthcare delivery.

Five key components central to ABDM redefine how individuals and systems interact with healthcare.

The Digital Health ID, or Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA), allows citizens to consolidate and manage medical records. By linking this ID to mobile numbers, users can ensure portability across facilities, enabling continuity of care and efficient services. Registered healthcare providers, both public and private, gain visibility through the Health Facility Registry (HFR), fostering transparency and accountability. Meanwhile, the Health Professional Registry (HPR) offers verified medical professionals the platform to deliver remote consultations, extending care to underserved areas. A user-friendly mobile application ensures individuals can securely store, access, and share health data. Finally, the Consent Manager ensures data sharing aligns with India’s Digital Personal Data Protection Act of 2023, prioritizing user-centric privacy.

India’s healthcare challenges are stark: 70% of its population resides in rural areas, yet 80% of healthcare infrastructure is concentrated in cities. ABDM aims to close this gap. Telemedicine and digital consultations offer rural communities access to previously unimaginable quality care. Moreover, ABDM exemplifies India’s commitment to data ethics. Blockchain technology, integrated into the system, promises secure, transparent, and traceable data transactions.

Proposals such as Health Chain, a blockchain-supported healthcare management system, further strengthen the initiative’s privacy and security measures.

By 2025, ABDM envisions a secure, portable, and universally accessible federated health information architecture. Its design as an open-source digital public good has drawn accolades from global institutions like the United Nations and the WHO. This modular framework allows other nations to adapt and replicate the model, addressing their unique healthcare needs. The initiative’s emphasis on real-time health data analytics enhances policymakers’ decision-making. It aligns seamlessly with global priorities like the UN Sustainable Development Goal 3, which aims to ensure health and well-being for all.

The Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission transcends technology. It represents a shift toward equitable, efficient healthcare that places patients at the system’s center. By integrating AI, blockchain, and telemedicine, ABDM addresses India’s long-standing healthcare challenges and offers a scalable model for the world. As this groundbreaking initiative unfolds, its potential to transform global healthcare outcomes becomes more evident.

Dikumoni Hazarika is a Doctoral Student at the Centre for the Study of Social Inclusion at Panjab University, Chandigarh.

Dr. Rohil Oberoi is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at DAV College, Panjab University, Chandigarh.