Patna: Digital health records have been made mandatory in all medical college hospitals in Bihar, following directions issued by the National Medical Commission around a month ago. The move is expected to simplify hospital procedures for patients visiting outpatient, inpatient and emergency departments by linking their treatment history to a single digital platform.
The state health department has issued instructions to all deans, superintendents and principals of medical colleges to ensure implementation of the system. Officials said hospitals that have not yet started work on the digital transition have been asked to begin immediately, with retrospective implementation where required.
How The System Will Work
Under the new arrangement, patients will no longer need to carry separate slips for diagnostic tests, prescriptions or medical reports. Once records are linked to an Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) ID, doctors will be able to access the patient’s treatment history, test reports and prescribed medicines through the digital portal.
Health department officials said the ABHA number will act as a unique identifier, allowing medical professionals to retrieve records instantly. This is expected to reduce delays during consultations and improve continuity of care across different hospital departments.
Relief For Patients
Officials said the digital system is intended to reduce long queues and paperwork, especially for patients requiring repeated visits for treatment. Records can be accessed in real time during consultations, avoiding the need to produce older prescriptions or manually maintained documents.
The department said the initiative will particularly help patients visiting multiple departments within a hospital, as their medical history will remain available through the centralised digital system.
ABHA Registration Process
According to the health department, registration for an Ayushman Bharat Health Account can be completed within a few minutes using either a mobile number or an Aadhaar card. The process has been simplified by the National Health Authority to encourage wider adoption.
Officials said the latest directive has been issued to accelerate implementation in institutions where progress has been slow, with the government pushing for all medical college hospitals in Bihar to fully adopt the digital records system.
