Efforts to expand digital health literacy in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands gained momentum this week with an orientation-cum-awareness programme organised under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) in Sri Vijaya Puram. The event brought together school students and frontline health workers to familiarise them with the mission’s objectives and tools aimed at creating a unified digital health ecosystem.
The programme was conducted by the Project Management Unit of ABDM as part of the Union Territory’s ongoing rollout of the initiative, which is administered nationally by the National Health Authority under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Since its launch in September 2021, ABDM has sought to digitise and integrate health services, enabling individuals to manage their health records securely and access them seamlessly across the country.
In Sri Vijaya Puram, participants included students from the Government Girls Senior Secondary School and frontline workers such as Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs) and Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) attached to local Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and Urban Health Centres (UHCs). The sessions aimed to empower these groups with the knowledge to navigate and utilise ABDM’s digital platforms.
Key components of ABDM were explained in detail. The Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA), central to the initiative, allows individuals to store and manage their medical records securely, enabling easier access for both patients and healthcare providers. The Health Facility Registry (HFR) provides a verified national database of healthcare institutions, from hospitals to diagnostic labs, ensuring that facilities are accurately listed and integrated into digital health networks. The Healthcare Professionals Registry (HPR) compiles information about licensed medical practitioners, including their qualifications and practice locations, enabling transparency and ease of access to verified professionals.
Organisers highlighted how these digital systems could improve healthcare delivery by reducing paperwork, speeding up medical consultations, and allowing for more informed clinical decisions through comprehensive patient histories. Participants were also introduced to the potential of e-hospital records, tele-consultations, and other digital services supported by the mission.
For students, the session was positioned as an introduction to the future of healthcare, where digital tools are expected to play a central role. For frontline workers, the training focused on how ABDM could support their existing roles, from patient record-keeping to connecting communities with remote medical consultations.
The awareness drive comes at a time when the Union Territory is expanding its healthcare infrastructure and service delivery models, with digital integration seen as a crucial step. In areas with geographical challenges such as the islands, where physical access to medical facilities can be limited, the ability to share and access health data online could bridge gaps in service provision.
Officials involved in the programme stressed that building awareness among youth and health workers is key to successful adoption. By targeting these groups, the initiative hopes to create early adopters who can spread knowledge and encourage wider use within their communities.
As ABDM continues its phased implementation, such local-level programmes are expected to become more frequent. The Administration’s emphasis on both infrastructure and education reflects an understanding that technology-driven healthcare requires not just systems but also informed users.
With the session in Sri Vijaya Puram concluded, organisers expect participants to serve as advocates for digital health tools, helping to embed them into everyday healthcare practices in the islands. The aim is to ensure that residents, whether in urban centres or remote villages, can benefit from the efficiency and accessibility that ABDM promises.
