Pilgrims embarking on the Char Dham Yatra can now create their Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) on the newly integrated eSwasthya Dham portal. This integration with the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) is a significant step towards enhancing digital health infrastructure in India. The ABDM, a central sector scheme launched in September 2021, aims to establish an integrated digital health ecosystem across the country.

The Uttarakhand Government’s Department of Health and Family Welfare launched the eSwasthya Dham portal, accessible at eSwasthya Dham, to monitor the health of pilgrims during the Char Dham Yatra. This pilgrimage covers the shrines of Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath. By tracking health parameters, the portal ensures a safe and smooth journey for all pilgrims, particularly senior citizens.

One of the key benefits of the eSwasthya Dham portal is the ability for pilgrims to generate their ABHA, a 14-digit number, in just 1-2 minutes. Given the surge in the number of pilgrims, this platform prioritizes health monitoring, especially critical at higher altitudes where conditions can exacerbate heart diseases, hypertension, respiratory issues, and diabetes due to cold weather and low oxygen levels.

The creation of ABHA under the ABDM establishes a reliable digital identity for pilgrims, facilitating the management of their health records. This digital health account ensures immediate medical intervention during emergencies and provides several other benefits. Over 650 million ABHA accounts have already been created, highlighting its widespread adoption.

ABHA allows citizens to store and manage their health records securely, share them with doctors with consent, and access various digital health services. This includes avoiding long queues at healthcare facilities and facilitating doctor appointments, making healthcare more accessible and efficient for all.