NMC makes ABHA ID mandatory for medical colleges

Making implementation of ABHA ID mandatory for medical colleges, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has stated that "for decisions in the assessment for the academic year of 2025-26 and thereafter, the patients and related clinical material authenticated with ABHA ID will only be counted."

With this, the authentication of patients and other clinical material in the hospital has become compulsory for decisions on the prospects of a college including increased seats in UG or PG, new college, annual renewal of permission/recognition to admit students.

NMC finalised this decision in its 14th meeting held on 01.05.2024. However, the Medical Regulator has also clarified that no patient should be denied treatment without the ABHA ID.

Last year, taking another step towards digitalization of the healthcare system across India, NMC had expressed its plans to ensure that all the patients, being treated in medical colleges, were registered through a unique ABHA ID.

Initially, NMC took this decision in its 11th meeting dated 18.10.2023. Back then, the Commission had issued a circular to all the medical colleges across the country and encouraged them to use ABHA ID.

NMC had highlighted that this process through the Health Management Information System (HMIS) would provide reliable data on the clinical material available in each college to train undergraduate and postgraduate medical students.