Pvt hosps get more time to comply with nat’l digital mission

Jaipur: Rajasthan has extended the deadline for private hospitals and health institutions empanelled under MAA-Yojana and Rajasthan Government Health Scheme (RGHS) to comply with the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) by a month to April 30.Health department issued the extension Thursday after repeated requests from private hospitals, many of which said they could not complete the digital transition within the timeline.The department said the extension is a final opportunity and that no further relaxation will be allowed beyond April 30.Under ABDM, the state is pushing digitisation of healthcare services so citizens can access their ABHA-linked health records on mobile phones through the Personal Health Record app.To implement this, all private hospitals, laboratories and pharmacy stores empanelled under MAA-Yojana and RGHS must create institutional IDs. Doctors, nurses and pharmacists working in these facilities must also get digital IDs.The department has also made it mandatory for empanelled institutions to adopt ABHA-based software systems such as Health Management Information System (HMIS) software. Officials said the digital integration is essential for seamless record sharing, service delivery and better patient access to medical data.Private hospitals said they needed more time to upgrade existing HMIS software to ABDM-compliant standards. They also cited delays in choosing software vendors, testing systems, finalising platforms, integrating them with existing operations and training staff.