NORCET 9 Mains - 2025: The digitalization initiative under Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) primarily aims to:?

NORCET 9 Mains - 2025

Health Information and Technology (Basic Computer)

Easy

Appeared in: NORCET 9 Mains - 2025

Explanation

The core objective of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) is to establish a national digital health ecosystem.
It provides a unique Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) number to every citizen, which serves as their digital health identity.
This ABHA number links a person's health records from various healthcare providers into a single, accessible electronic health record (EHR).
This system empowers citizens to control their health data, allowing them to access and share it with consent, which ensures seamless continuity of care.

Option B: Creating an online database of hospitals (Health Facility Registry - HFR) is a foundational component of ABDM, but it is not the primary aim. The registry serves to verify and list all healthcare facilities to support the main goal of patient data interoperability.
Option C: Providing cashless insurance claims is the primary function of a different, though related, scheme: Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY). ABDM focuses on the digital infrastructure for health data, not the financial insurance aspect.
Option D: Launching mobile health apps for doctors is a supportive function, not the primary aim. The Healthcare Professionals Registry (HPR) is a part of ABDM that verifies doctors, and while apps may be used, the central goal is patient-centric data management.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Primary objective of Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
For nurses, ABDM means having faster access to a patient's comprehensive medical history, including allergies, past diagnoses, and medications. This can significantly reduce medical errors and improve the quality and speed of care, especially in emergency situations.
The system facilitates better care coordination, as a patient's records can be seamlessly transferred from a primary health center to a tertiary hospital, ensuring all healthcare providers have the same, up-to-date information.
What if? A patient arrives at the emergency room unconscious and without any family. If they have an ABHA number (e.g., on a card or linked to a mobile number), the nursing and medical staff could potentially access life-saving information like blood type, chronic conditions (e.g., diabetes, hypertension), and critical allergies, enabling immediate and appropriate treatment.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key terms in the question: 'Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM)' and 'primarily aims'. This directs you to find the main, central objective of this specific program.
Recognize that 'Digital Mission' points towards a goal related to technology, data, and infrastructure, rather than a direct service like insurance.
Evaluate each option. Option A, 'making health records available online', directly aligns with the concept of a digital mission centered on data.
Differentiate between the components of the broader Ayushman Bharat initiative. Remember that PM-JAY is the insurance scheme (eliminating Option C), while ABDM is the digital backbone.
Consider the roles of the other options. Registries for hospitals (Option B) and doctors (Option D) are necessary parts of the infrastructure, but they exist to support the primary goal of managing patient health records. Therefore, they are means to an end, not the primary aim itself.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Primary objective of Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM)
Stem keywords: Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), digitalization initiative, primarily aims
Lead-in keywords: primarily aims
Negative lead-in flag: false

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