Tripura Launches Drive to Digitize Patient Health Records & Healthcare Facilities

Spearheaded by the National Health Mission (NHM) Tripura, this endeavor aims to streamline healthcare delivery and enhance accessibility to medical records across the state.

In a significant move towards modernizing healthcare services, Tripura has initiated a drive to digitize patient health records and integrate healthcare facilities into a unified digital platform. 

Spearheaded by the National Health Mission (NHM) Tripura, this endeavor aims to streamline healthcare delivery and enhance accessibility to medical records across the state.

Under the umbrella of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), the NHM Tripura has embarked on a mission to transition healthcare professionals, pharmacies, laboratories, and both public and private healthcare facilities onto a digital platform. 

Sharing insights, Binay Bhusan Das, additional mission director, NHM Tripura, said, "Each of the healthcare professionals, pharmacies, and labs would be brought under the same digital platform through this drive."

Additionally, patients will be issued ABHA (Ayushman Bharat Health Account) cards, providing them with a unique identifier within the digital system. 

Das further explained, "Each of the individuals who register with the database will be issued a unique number." 

This initiative aims to centralize and digitize patient medical histories, including prescriptions, test reports, treatments, and other relevant health-related information.

Digitization Paving the Way

According to Das, digitization of health records will significantly enhance accessibility and efficiency in healthcare delivery. With patient consent, doctors will have seamless access to comprehensive medical histories, facilitating informed decision-making and improved patient care.

"With the consent of the patient, the doctors can easily access those files to understand his whole medical history with one simple click," Das added.

He further said that the introduction of 'scan and share' technology through QR codes will streamline the process of uploading patient data to hospital servers and scheduling appointments with doctors.

This innovative approach ensures the seamless integration of healthcare facilities into the digital ecosystem.

Broad Outreach & Enrollment Efforts

Efforts are underway to ensure the comprehensive enrollment of healthcare facilities and professionals into the digital system. 

Das highlighted, "Private practitioners, retired doctors, laboratories, nursing homes, and pharmacies are also being enrolled into the system to make sure that all the data related to healthcare is available to the government." 

He further said that special camps and drives are planned across district and subdivision headquarters to facilitate registration and outreach efforts.

Chief Minister Jan Arogya Yojana (CMJAY)

In tandem with the digitization drive, Tripura  launched the Chief Minister Jan Arogya Yojana (CMJAY), aimed at providing free healthcare services to indoor patients up to the primary health center level and empaneled private hospitals within and outside the state. 

Tripura Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha, along with cabinet members and officials, inaugurated CMJAY, marking a significant step towards universal health coverage.

With the launch of CMJAY, Tripura becomes the first among small states and the 12th state in the country to implement a universal health insurance scheme akin to Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY). 

The scheme underscores the government's commitment to ensuring equitable access to healthcare services for all citizens.

The digitization of patient health records and the launch of CMJAY represent pivotal steps toward leveraging technology to transform healthcare delivery in Tripura. 

These initiatives hold the potential to revolutionize healthcare accessibility, efficiency, and quality across the state, ultimately benefiting the health and well-being of its residents.