ABHA Health ID — How to Create, Uses, Benefits & Link Health Records

ABHA (Ayushman Bharat Health Account), formerly known as Health ID, is a unique 14-digit identification number that serves as your digital health identity in India. Part of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), ABHA enables you to store, access, and share your health records digitally across healthcare providers.

Disclaimer: CitizenNest is an independent informational platform and is not affiliated with the Government of India or NHA.

What is ABHA?

ABHA is your gateway to India's digital health ecosystem. It provides:

• A unique 14-digit health ID for every Indian citizen
• An ABHA address (username@abdm) for easy identification
• Digital storage of all your health records in one place
• Consent-based sharing of records with doctors and hospitals
• Interoperability across all ABDM-linked healthcare facilities

Think of ABHA as the "Aadhaar for health" — a single digital identity that links all your medical records across different hospitals, labs, and pharmacies.

Who Can Create ABHA?

• Any Indian resident can create an ABHA
• No age restriction — can be created for children by parents/guardians
• Free of cost — no charges for creation or maintenance
• Available for both Aadhaar holders and non-Aadhaar holders (via driving licence)

How to Create ABHA Health ID

Method 1: Using Aadhaar (Recommended)

1. Visit abha.abdm.gov.in
2. Click "Create ABHA Number"
3. Select "Using Aadhaar"
4. Enter your 12-digit Aadhaar number
5. Verify via OTP sent to Aadhaar-linked mobile number
6. Confirm your details — name, date of birth, gender, address (auto-fetched from Aadhaar)
7. Create your ABHA address (e.g., yourname@abdm)
8. Set a password for your account
9. Your 14-digit ABHA number is generated
10. Download your ABHA card (PDF)

Method 2: Using Driving Licence

1. Visit abha.abdm.gov.in
2. Click "Create ABHA Number"
3. Select "Using Driving Licence"
4. Enter driving licence details
5. Verify via mobile OTP
6. Fill in additional required details
7. Create ABHA address and password
8. Download your ABHA card

Method 3: At a Healthcare Facility

1. Visit any ABDM-linked hospital, clinic, or health centre
2. Ask the registration desk to create your ABHA
3. Provide your Aadhaar or driving licence for verification
4. The facility creates your ABHA and provides the card/number

Method 4: Using ABHA Mobile App

1. Download the ABHA app from Google Play Store or Apple App Store
2. Follow the same steps as the website method
3. Your ABHA card is stored digitally in the app

Uses of ABHA Health ID

1. Unified Health Records

• All your medical records (prescriptions, lab reports, discharge summaries) linked to a single ID
• Access records from any healthcare provider you've visited
• No more carrying physical files to every doctor visit

2. Hospital Registration

• Quick OPD registration at ABDM-linked hospitals using ABHA number
• Reduces paperwork and waiting time
• Works across government and private ABDM-linked facilities

3. Telemedicine

• Use ABHA for online consultations through platforms like eSanjeevani
• Doctors can access your health history with your consent
• Seamless digital prescriptions linked to your ABHA

4. Lab Reports & Prescriptions

• Diagnostic labs can push reports directly to your ABHA
• Pharmacies can access prescriptions digitally
• Complete medication history available in one place

5. Insurance & Claims

• Health insurance companies can access records for faster claim processing
• Reduces paperwork for cashless claims
• Useful for Ayushman Bharat (PMJAY) beneficiaries

6. Emergency Access

• In emergencies, authorized medical personnel can access critical health information
• Allergies, blood group, chronic conditions readily available
• Can save lives when the patient cannot communicate

How to Link Health Records

1. Login to the ABHA app or website
2. Go to "Link Health Records"
3. Search for the healthcare facility by name
4. Select the facility and request records
5. The facility sends your records linked to your ABHA
6. Approve the linking request
7. Records appear in your ABHA profile

ABHA vs Ayushman Bharat Card

Both can work together — ABHA manages your digital records, Ayushman Bharat provides insurance coverage.

Privacy & Security

• Consent-based — No one can access your records without your explicit consent
• You control sharing — Choose which records to share and with whom
• Revocable access — Withdraw consent anytime
• Encrypted data — Health records are stored securely
• ABDM compliance — All linked facilities must follow ABDM privacy guidelines

Important Tips

1. Create Early — Even if you're healthy, create your ABHA now. It's useful in emergencies.
2. Link Aadhaar — Aadhaar-based ABHA creation is fastest and most widely accepted.
3. Use the App — Keep the ABHA app on your phone for quick access to health records.
4. Share Selectively — Only share records when necessary and revoke access when no longer needed.
5. Update Records — After every hospital visit, ensure your records are linked to your ABHA.

Related Guides

• Check the Ayushman Bharat hospital guide for free treatment under PMJAY
• Read our Aadhaar card guide — needed for ABHA creation
• See the ESIC benefits guide for employee health insurance
• Check the Jan Aushadhi guide for affordable medicines

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Is ABHA mandatory?

No, ABHA is voluntary. However, it is increasingly being used at government and private hospitals for registration and digital health record management.

Q2: Can I have multiple ABHA accounts?

No, each person can have only one ABHA number. It is uniquely linked to your identity (Aadhaar or other ID). You can have multiple ABHA addresses linked to one ABHA number.

Q3: Is my health data safe with ABHA?

Yes, ABHA follows strict privacy guidelines under ABDM. Your data is encrypted, consent-based, and you have full control over who can access your records.

Q4: Can I delete my ABHA account?

Yes, you can deactivate or delete your ABHA account through the app or website. However, this will disconnect all linked health records.

Q5: Do all hospitals accept ABHA?

ABDM is progressively onboarding hospitals. Most major government hospitals and many private hospitals now accept ABHA. The number of participating facilities is growing rapidly.

Q6: Can I create ABHA for my children?

Yes, parents or guardians can create ABHA for minor children using the child's Aadhaar or through the parent's verified ABHA account.

Q7: Is there a physical ABHA card?

You can download and print your ABHA card from the website or app. There is no government-issued physical card; the downloaded PDF serves as your ABHA card.

Last updated: February 2026. Features and linked facilities are expanding. Verify current details on abha.abdm.gov.in.