CGHS Extends Deadline to Link Cards With Ayushman Bharat Digital Health IDs, Plans to Set Up Kiosks

The Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) has pushed the deadline to link health records with cards of its scheme holders. The CGHS has also decided to assist beneficiaries in the process and will set up kiosks to facilitate the process.

The move is part of aligning Indians with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s flagship Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM). Under the scheme, the government is aiming to digitise India’s health records to eliminate the necessity for physical reports and medical records.

Like the Aadhaar number, the scheme provides a 14-digit unique code as the digital health ID, known as Ayushman Bharat Health Account or ABHA ID.

As per the latest notice, seen by News18, the deadline for linking ABHA numbers with CGHS cards has been extended to 120 days or four months, starting from June 30. Individuals who have not yet created their ABHA IDs will receive assistance from the same date. However, the deadline for creating these IDs will be 90 days after the assistance begins.

On March 28, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare made the linking of CGHS beneficiary ID with ABHA ID mandatory, starting April 1, and asked to complete the linking within 30 days for all existing CGHS beneficiaries.

Setting Up Kiosks for Help

According to a notice issued by YH Satheesh, director of CGHS, kiosks will be made operational at all wellness centres by the end of June to assist CGHS beneficiaries.

CGHS will inform its beneficiaries to visit “their nearest CGHS wellness centre on a need basis” for availing assistance.

The kiosks will be set up to deliver services such as updating the mobile number or correcting errors in name, year of birth, or gender. They will also help the people link of CGHS beneficiary ID to the ABHA number.

The notice, sent by CGHS on April 15, is marked to all ministries and departments of the government, all autonomous bodies of the government empanelled in CGHS and all additional directors in CGHS.

At present, over 41 lakh beneficiaries across 75 cities are covered under the CGHS scheme which addresses the healthcare requirements of qualified beneficiaries.