Only 3% people in Bhopal-Raisen have Ayushman Bharat Health Account:Study reveals poor digital access; 16.6% lack mobile phones and 8.2% don’t even have Aadhaar cards

A recent study conducted by Gandhi Medical College and Hamidia Hospital, in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), has revealed a grim reality about the implementation of the Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) initiative in Madhya Pradesh’s Bhopal and Raisen districts. Despite the government’s push for digital health accessibility, only 2.8 percent of the population surveyed have an ABHA number — a unique digital health ID meant to store an individual’s medical records online. Study exposes digital divide Out of 5,709 participants, only 162 people (2.8%) had registered for an ABHA number. This means that over 97 percent of people in these districts remain outside the digital health system.
The study, titled “Bridging the Healthcare Gap: A Mixed Method Study on the Impact of Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) on Underprivileged Population of Bhopal and Raisen District”, was published on ResearchGate. Researchers found that 16.6 percent of people don’t own a mobile phone, and 8.2 percent don’t have an Aadhaar card, making registration for the ABHA scheme nearly impossible for many. Rural data slightly better than urban Among the 5,709 participants, 43 percent were women and 57 percent were men. About 50.1 percent lived in urban areas, and 49.9 percent in rural regions.
Surprisingly, the rural participation rate in ABHA was slightly higher at 3.4 percent, compared to 2.3 percent in cities. Experts suggest this is because rural participants were more involved in government health programs where ABHA registration is sometimes encouraged. Challenges: Infrastructure and awareness The study highlights two distinct challenges: Researchers noted, “The scheme’s intent is excellent, but ground-level implementation remains weak.” They added that both infrastructure and awareness must improve simultaneously for the digital health revolution to succeed. Recommendations from researchers The study suggests: What is an ABHA number? The Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) is a 14-digit unique digital health ID that connects all of a person’s medical records — including doctor prescriptions, lab reports, and vaccination data — on one platform. It is a key component of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. ​