The NHA has extended its Digital Health Incentives Scheme (DHIS) for the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission until December 31, 2023. The scheme encourages hospitals, diagnostic labs, and digital health solutions to adopt transformative digitization within the ABDM.

The DHIS, introduced in January 2023, has significantly accelerated digital health technology adoption in healthcare delivery. With positive responses from providers and tech companies, the scheme's extension aims to expand its benefits to more stakeholders.

Talking about the purpose behind extension of the incentive scheme, CEO NHA said -

“The extension of this incentive scheme under ABDM reaffirms NHA’s commitment to fostering a digitally inclusive healthcare ecosystem and underscores the Government of India’s dedication to advancing accessible and efficient healthcare services across the nation. With initiatives like DHIS, we plan to recognise and encourage healthcare providers and enablers to collaborate and help build a digitally empowered healthcare ecosystem.”

The DHIS offers financial incentives of up to Rs 4 crores to health facilities and digital solution companies for creating digital health records linked to patients' Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) numbers. Eligible facilities and digital solution companies registered with ABDM's Health Facility Registry can avail of this incentive. The benefits are expected to reduce costs or cover digitization expenses for healthcare facilities.

Currently, 1205 health facilities have enrolled in this scheme, including 567 public and 638 private hospitals/clinics/diagnostic labs. Among the 25 registered digital solution companies, 22 are from the private sector. Up to June 2023, around 120 health facilities and 7 health tech companies have received incentives totaling Rs 4.84 Crores.