The Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) and the State Health Agency in Jammu and Kashmir were honoured with prestigious awards during the Arogya Manthan-2023 event at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi. These awards recognised their significant contributions to digital healthcare initiatives, ensuring the efficient and seamless delivery of healthcare services to the residents of the Union Territory. ABDM J&K secured the third position for its outstanding work in generating Ayushman Bharat Health Accounts (ABHA) and Scan & Share IDs within J&K. Simultaneously, the State Health Agency was recognised for achieving the ‘Highest Ayushman Card Creation’ rate, ensuring smooth patient care within the UT under the AB Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) scheme.
Jammu and Kashmir faced unique challenges in streamlining its administration after becoming a Union Territory, and simultaneously embracing the Digital India initiative was no easy task. Initially, there may have been hurdles in implementing digital initiatives, but once the concept’s utility and benefits were grasped by the staff, there was no looking back. The consistent performance of UT’s hospitals in the AB PM-JAY and ABHA schemes is commendable, especially considering the hilly terrain and extreme weather conditions in the region. Providing healthcare services at the doorstep in such conditions is a herculean task, and the healthcare facilities in Jammu and Kashmir have succeeded in this endeavour. Achieving the recognition of “Highest Ayushman Card Creation” is a significant accomplishment, and it reflects the dedication and hard work involved. The people of Jammu and Kashmir are now reaping the immense benefits of seamless healthcare services provided through these initiatives. With sufficient budget allocations and a commitment to people-oriented schemes, Jammu and Kashmir is poised for further improvements in healthcare services, ensuring the well-being of its residents. This progress is a testament to the resilience and determination of the region to overcome challenges and provide essential services to its people. This recognition of their efforts will serve as motivation for their even more impactful work in providing top-notch healthcare services.