Font size:
Print
Government’s Plan to Integrate Telemedicine Services
Context:
The Central government plans to integrate e-Sanjeevani telemedicine services with the Unified Health Interface (UHI), a key component of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM). This move aims to enhance accessibility and provide a single-window platform for telemedicine services across India.
Key Features of the Integration
- Patients can use any UHI-enabled application to:
- Discover & book telemedicine consultations.
- Receive free tele-consultations without visiting physical OPDs.
- Store and access digital prescriptions & health records in one place.
- Avoid paperwork and hospital visits for minor ailments.
e-Sanjeevani Platform Overview
-
- The e-Sanjeevani platform is a telemedicine initiative offering remote consultations. It has two main components:
- e-Sanjeevani OPD: Facilitates remote doctor-patient consultations.
- e-Sanjeevani AB-HWC: Connects health and wellness centres with specialist doctors to improve healthcare in remote areas.
- The e-Sanjeevani platform is a telemedicine initiative offering remote consultations. It has two main components:
- Key statistics (as of 31 January 2025):
-
- 3.4 million ABHA health IDs created.
- 4.5 million health records linked.
- 318.6 million teleconsultations conducted by 31 December 2024.
Unified Health Interface (UHI)
- UHI enables interoperability in healthcare services, allowing patients to discover, book, and pay for services across different healthcare providers using any UHI-enabled mobile application. It allows easy access to telemedicine doctors and eliminates the need for physical visits to hospitals or clinics.
- The integration with e-Sanjeevani will allow patients to discover doctors for tele-consultations, schedule appointments, and access health records—all through a single platform
Benefits of Integration
- Democratised Access: By linking e-Sanjeevani with UHI, more citizens, especially those in remote areas, will have access to telemedicine services. This will particularly benefit individuals in underserved areas, providing easier access to healthcare professionals.
- Convenience and Efficiency: The integration will streamline healthcare access by allowing patients to book appointments, conduct consultations, and pay for services seamlessly through any UHI-enabled application.
- Health Records and Prescriptions: Patients will be able to store their health records digitally and access prescriptions without the need for physical copies, improving convenience and reducing the chances of misplacement.
Future of Telemedicine in India
- The integration will expand telemedicine services, making healthcare more accessible, efficient, and paperless.
- Patients will be able to use any UHI-enabled app to access telehealth services, further democratising healthcare access.
