In a significant move aimed at digitizing and streamlining healthcare records, the health department in Jaipur has issued a directive making it compulsory for patients to register at government hospitals using their Aadhaar or Jan Aadhaar numbers. The order, dated December 22, mandates this requirement for Outpatient Department (OPD) registrations across all state-run medical institutions.
New Registration Rules for Patient Data Management
The department has formally instructed the personnel in charge of government medical facilities to enforce the use of Aadhaar and Jan Aadhaar cards for OPD registration. District administrations have been tasked with strictly monitoring OPD registrations to ensure compliance and identify any violations of this new rule. While officials state that this step will significantly enhance patient data management and create a unified health record system, it has sparked immediate concerns regarding healthcare access for individuals who do not possess these identity cards.
Linking to Ayushman Bharat and Digital Health Platforms
Parallel to the Aadhaar mandate, the health department has also issued instructions to create Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) IDs for every patient registering at government hospitals and clinics. Chief Medical Health Officers and divisional joint directors have been asked to generate detailed reports on ABHA ID creation, categorized block-wise and institution-wise.
A health department official further elaborated, "District officers have received instructions to map these newly created ABHA IDs with the integrated health management system and other relevant online platforms. Furthermore, we have mandated that any offline OPD slips issued at health institutions must have their details entered into the online system within a strict 24-hour window."
Accessibility Concerns and Unanswered Questions
The primary criticism and unresolved issue surrounding this directive is the lack of a clear protocol for patients who do not have an Aadhaar or Jan Aadhaar card. The order does not specify alternative methods for such individuals to access essential healthcare services at government facilities. This gap has raised alarms among health activists and community workers, who argue that it could potentially exclude vulnerable and marginalized populations from the public health system. The success of this digital push will heavily depend on how the authorities address these accessibility challenges while pursuing administrative efficiency.
