Google has announced that Ayushman Bharat Health Cards will be integrated into Google Wallet starting in 2025, offering a seamless digital solution for healthcare access. The tech giant has been collaborating with the National Health Authority (NHA), which oversees India’s Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), to develop open-source tools that simplify integration with the ABDM framework. Previously complex processes, taking up to six months, can now be completed in less than two weeks due to these innovations.
A key component of the ABDM initiative is the Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA), a universal health ID designed to connect citizens with India’s expanding digital healthcare ecosystem. The ABHA ID enables individuals to store critical health information, including lab reports and prescriptions, and share it easily with healthcare providers across the country.
Google’s partnership with Eka Care, an authorized ABHA ID issuer, will enable over 600 million ABHA ID holders to access their health cards on Google Wallet. Users will be required to authenticate their devices using PINs, passcodes, or fingerprint scans to ensure privacy and security of sensitive health information.
The introduction of Ayushman Bharat Health Cards into Google Wallet marks a significant step forward in empowering individuals with better control over their healthcare data. This digital solution will allow people to conveniently track and manage their health information using their smartphones, while also leveraging India’s growing public health infrastructure.
Last month, the Indian government has extended the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) to senior citizens aged 70 and above. This extension provides health insurance coverage of Rs 5 lakh per family, benefiting over six crore senior citizens.
Under this scheme, all senior citizens, regardless of income level, will be eligible for the insurance, and a distinct card will be issued for easy identification and access to healthcare services.
