ABHA integration for hospitals — complete guide for 2026

What is ABHA?

ABHA (Ayushman Bharat Health Account) is a 14-digit unique health ID for every Indian citizen. It allows patients to store and share their health records digitally, and enables hospitals to link patient visits to a central health record accessible to the patient.

💡 As of 2026, hospitals participating in Ayushman Bharat PMJAY are required to implement ABDM M1 compliance, which includes ABHA creation and linking.

ABDM Milestone 1 (M1) — What it requires

ABHA creation via Aadhaar OTP
ABHA creation via Mobile OTP
Linking existing ABHA to patient record
ABHA QR code scan at reception
ABHA unlinking and consent management
Audit log for all ABHA operations

5 ABHA Flows in MediCore HIS

Flow 1: Create ABHA via Aadhaar OTP

Patient provides Aadhaar number at reception. System sends OTP to Aadhaar-linked mobile. Patient enters OTP. ABHA is created and linked to the patient record. Patient data fields are auto-populated from Aadhaar and locked for editing.

Flow 2: Create ABHA via Mobile OTP

For patients without Aadhaar or who prefer mobile verification. OTP sent to registered mobile. Once verified, ABHA is created with basic demographic data.

Flow 3: Link existing ABHA

Patient already has an ABHA from another hospital or created via ABHA app. Enter their 14-digit ABHA number or scan QR code. System verifies and links to the patient record.

Flow 4: ABHA QR Code Scan

Patient shows QR code from their ABHA Health app. Reception scans QR code at check-in. Instant ABHA linking without manual data entry — fastest flow for returning patients.

Flow 5: Unlink ABHA (Patient Request)

Patient requests to unlink their ABHA from hospital records. Requires patient consent. All unlink actions are logged with timestamp, staff member and reason.

Pro Tip

Always test all 5 flows in ABDM Sandbox environment before going live. NHA provides sandbox credentials for testing without real Aadhaar data.

Field Locking After ABHA Verification

Once a patient's ABHA is verified and linked, their demographic fields (name, date of birth, gender, address) are automatically locked in MediCore HIS. This prevents accidental data modification and ensures ABDM data integrity requirements are met.

Consent Audit Trail

Every ABHA operation in MediCore HIS writes a complete audit record including: patient ID, staff member who performed the action, action type (create/link/unlink), verification method used, timestamp, and IP address.

Getting ABDM Credentials

1Register your hospital at https://facility.ndhm.gov.in
2Apply for ABDM HIP (Health Information Provider) credentials
3Complete the NHA technical integration review
4Receive production API keys — valid for 1 year, renewable
5Configure in MediCore HIS under Settings → ABDM Configuration

💡 MediCore HIS comes with ABDM Sandbox credentials pre-configured for testing. Contact CareNexa support to switch to production NHA credentials once your hospital registration is approved.