India's digital health milestone: 25 crore OPD registrations via QR code

NEW DELHI: The long queues at hospital registration counters are steadily being replaced by a simpler process—scanning a QR code. Under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), patients have now completed 25 crore outpatient (OPD) registrations through the ABHA-based 'Scan and Register' service, with nearly four lakh people using the facility every day.

Introduced in October 2022, the service allows patients to register for an OPD consultation by scanning a QR code displayed at participating hospitals through an ABDM-enabled health app. Once the patient gives consent, their ABHA-linked details are shared with the hospital, eliminating paperwork and reducing waiting time at registration counters.

The service is now available in 30,800 hospitals and healthcare facilities across 36 states and Union Territories and 756 districts, making it one of the country's fastest-growing digital public health services. More than 24,000 government facilities and 6,400 private hospitals have adopted the system.

Among states, Bihar has recorded the highest number of digital OPD registrations—over 7.3 crore—followed by Uttar Pradesh (4.09 crore), Andhra Pradesh (3.38 crore) and Jammu & Kashmir (1.39 crore). Among hospitals, AIIMS New Delhi has emerged as the busiest digital registration centre, recording over 54.29 lakh Scan and Register transactions. It is followed by AIIMS Bhopal (29.1 lakh), AIIMS Bhubaneswar (23.93 lakh), AIIMS Patna (19.62 lakh) and AIIMS Raipur (18.63 lakh).

Officials said the service has particularly eased hospital visits for senior citizens, pregnant women and patients requiring frequent follow-ups by cutting time spent at registration counters and doing away with repeated form filling.

“This milestone reflects the growing trust that citizens and healthcare providers have placed in India's digital health ecosystem. By simplifying one of the most common touchpoints in healthcare—OPD registration—the service has enhanced patient convenience while improving efficiency for hospitals,” said Dr Sunil Kumar Barnwal, Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Authority.

The National Health Authority said the service is now operational across AIIMS, central and state government hospitals, medical colleges, district hospitals, ESIC and railway hospitals, as well as private healthcare facilities. It is expected to expand further as more hospitals adopt ABHA-enabled digital services.

India's digital health infrastructure has been growing steadily under the ABDM, which aims to create a seamless online platform for health records. The ABHA (Ayushman Bharat Health Account) is a unique health ID that allows citizens to store and share their health records digitally. The 'Scan and Register' service is one of several digital tools introduced under the mission to improve access and convenience in healthcare delivery.

While the milestone is significant, experts note that digital adoption must be accompanied by efforts to ensure accessibility for all sections of society, including those with limited digital literacy. Official data shows that the service is already reaching a wide geographic spread, but continued expansion and user guidance will be key to ensuring its benefits are fully realised.