Universal card to avail benefits of govt's healthcare across country

New Delhi: In a major move aimed at providing affordable healthcare facilities, the government has decided to issue universal health cards to all that would enable a patient to get the benefits of the government's healthcare facilities in any part of the country. According to a senior Health Ministry official, there would be an online health record attached to this health card that can be used from any corner of the country and it would be updated continuously.

"As per the plan, the issuance of health cards would first start in 115 aspirational districts from this month onwards and afterwards it would be rolled out in remaining parts of the country in a phased manner. The software has been developed to keep online health records of all beneficiaries," the official said.

Citing the example of CGHS health cards, the official said, "The health cards would have all medical history of a beneficiary such as how many times a patient has visited healthcare centres, medicines prescribed, diagnosis, admission to any hospital, etc."

"A doctor would be able to know basic information related to a person's health such as blood pressure, sugar level, allergic reactions, if there has been any serious illness, just by entering the universal ID number of the patient to the software," the official said, adding that the beneficiaries would have to carry their I-cards to get treatment in any government hospital.

The issued I-cards would also be linked to National Health Protection Mission software after the launch of the world's largest insurance cover for all.

The official further maintained that the software would not be shared with any private clinics and hospitals and it would be restricted to the use of only government healthcare centres and hospitals.

However, a person who has been treated in a private hospital would be able to update his health records by showing the inquiry report and the prescription.