• The National Health Authority (NHA) said the government’s eSanjeevani telemedicine service has been integrated with the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM).

• This integration allows the existing eSanjeevani users to easily create their Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) and use it to link and manage their existing health records like prescriptions, lab reports, etc.

• The users would also be able to share their health records with doctors on eSanjeevani leading to better clinical decision making and ensuring the continuum of care.

• The eSanjeevani telemedicine platform now joins other 40 digital health applications that have completed their ABDM integration. Together, these health tech services are building a robust, interoperable and inclusive digital health ecosystem for the country.

• ABDM aims to build digital highways to bridge the gaps in existing digital health solutions and stakeholders in India. The integration of eSanjeevani with ABDM is one such example where the 22 crore ABHA holders can link and store their health records created via eSanjeevani in the health lockers of their choice. They can also share their previously linked health records with doctors on eSanjeevani making the entire consultation process paperless.

eSanjeevani — National telemedicine service

• In April 2020, during the nationwide lockdown, the Union health ministry launched eSanjeevani OPD. It is a patient-to-doctor telemedicine platform and provisions health services to the public in the confines of their homes.

• Patients consult with doctors and specialists on a daily basis using this innovative digital medium to seek health services.

• eSanjeevani platform has enabled two types of telemedicine services — doctor-to-doctor (eSanjeevani) and patient-to-doctor (eSanjeevani OPD) tele-consultations. 

• The former is being implemented under the Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centre (AB-HWC). It aims to implement tele-consultation in all the 1.5 lakh Health and Wellness Centres in conjunction with identified medical college hospitals in a ‘hub and spoke’ model. States have identified and set up dedicated ‘hubs’ in medical colleges and district hospitals to provide tele-consultation services to ‘spokes’ — Sub-Health Centres (SHCs), Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and Health & Wellness Centres (HWCs).

• By the end of 2022, eSanjeevani AB-HWC is slated to be implemented at 1,55,000 Health & Wellness Centres nationally. 

Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission

• In September 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM).

• It was originally called the National Digital Health Mission and launched on August 15, 2020 as a pilot in six Union Territories.

• Based on the foundations laid down in the form of Jan Dhan, Aadhaar and Mobile (JAM) trinity and other digital initiatives of the government, Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) is creating a seamless online platform through the provision of a wide-range of data, information and infrastructure services, duly leveraging open, interoperable, standards-based digital systems while ensuring the security, confidentiality and privacy of health-related personal information.

• Citizens will only be a click away from accessing health care facilities.

• Under the mission, citizens will get a digital health ID.

• Health is a state subject, but the National Health Mission will work closely with the states on Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission.

• The digital health ecosystem created by Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission supports continuity of care across primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare in a seamless manner. 

• It aids availability of health care services particularly in remote and rural areas through technology interventions like telemedicine.

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