Quick answer
The ABHA card gives each patient one 14-digit health ID and an ABHA address. Reports and prescriptions from different hospitals can be linked to it and shared with a new doctor only when the patient consents.
Benefits for patients
- One ID everywhere: the same health ID works at any ABDM-connected hospital, lab or clinic.
- Records in one place: past reports and prescriptions can be viewed in a health records app instead of carrying paper files.
- Consent control: the patient decides who sees which records and for how long.
- Faster registration: sharing ABHA at the front desk can fill in verified details.
- Free: creating an ABHA costs nothing.
Benefits for hospitals
- Cleaner registration: fewer typing errors in names, age and address.
- Better clinical history: with consent, doctors can see earlier reports from other facilities.
- ABDM readiness: ABHA create and verify is the first ABDM software milestone (M1).
- Patient trust: offering ABHA shows your hospital follows national digital health standards.
How to create an ABHA
- At the hospital: the registration desk enters the patient's Aadhaar or mobile number in ABDM-ready software and the patient confirms with OTP.
- Online: on the official ABHA portal or app, using Aadhaar or mobile OTP.
To download the card after creation, see our ABHA card download and integration guide.
