NMC directs medical colleges to keep records of patients in ABHA ID

 

 

To keep records of patients properly by all Government and private medical colleges of State, the regulatory body of medical education, National Medical Commission (NMC) has directed authorities of medical colleges that Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) ID should be recorded along with registration of patient in the hospital. It will also help patients to get their medical records easily and use it as second opinion in other hospitals of State or big cities. It may be mentioned here that, the ABHA card contains a unique 14-digit identification number called ABHA ID. In it, the entire medical history, consultation details and prescriptions are included in the ABHA id. It is transparent and it would not be damaged in any circumstance.

 

However, NMC maintained that patient should be treated properly without the ABHA ID too. In the letter to deans of all medical colleges including 16 ones across Chhattisgarh, management of NMC mentioned that intent is to ensure availability of authentic records of patients and the clinical material in the associated hospital of the medical college like Dr BR Ambedkar Memorial Hospital with Pt Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Medical College Raipur. But the problem is that, many of the medical colleges do not use this requirement and still use outdated method to keep medical records of their patients. “All in-patient records should have the entry of the unit faculty and senior residents with their name and signature authenticating that they have admitted and seen the patient. All investigative reports should be signed by a faculty in the corresponding department. Verification of the authenticity may be conducted by the NMC as part of the assessments.

 

If at any point of time, the patient records are found to be fake; action shall be taken against the concerned faculty and the college/institute,” NMC mentioned in letter. In the letter, it is clearly mentioned that all medical institutes are now required to ensure that ABHA ID be mentioned as a precondition for registration of patients visiting for the OPD/IPD or emergency services in hospitals which are attached to medical college. “The Commission has endorsed a strong need to have authentication of patients and other clinical material in the hospital for decision on the prospects of a college (increased seats in UG or PG, new college, annual renewal of permission/recognition to admit students). The creation of ABHA lD is a very simple process and can be facilitated conveniently with the possession of Aadhaar card that has already been extended to people on a large scale,” the letters stated. Dr Vivek Choudhary, Dean of Pt Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Medical College stated that the hospital has already introduced in cancer wing and now it will be introduced in all departments as per instructions of NMC.