ABHA Health ID: How to Create One and Whether Kochi Patients Need It
ABHA is a free 14-digit health ID made with an Aadhaar OTP. It is voluntary, not the Ayushman card, and only useful where hospitals accept it.
An ABHA number is a free, 14-digit health ID that you can create online in a few minutes at abha.abdm.gov.in, using your Aadhaar number and the OTP sent to your Aadhaar-linked mobile. It is voluntary: the National Health Authority (NHA) has said hospitals cannot refuse treatment to a patient who does not have one. As of August 2026, the NHA reported 25 crore OPD registrations through its ABHA-based Scan and Register service, across 30,800 facilities in 756 districts.
- What is ABHA, and what is an ABHA address?
- How do I create an ABHA number?
- Is ABHA card and Ayushman card same?
- What is the benefit of an ABHA card?
- Is it worth making one in Kochi?
What is ABHA, and what is an ABHA address?
ABHA stands for Ayushman Bharat Health Account, part of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission. The account has two parts, and people mix them up constantly:
| Item | What it is | Think of it as |
|---|---|---|
| ABHA number | A randomly generated 14-digit number that identifies you; one per person | A bank account number |
| ABHA address | A readable username such as name@abdm; you can have more than one linked to the same number | A UPI ID |
| Ayushman card | Card under the PM-JAY health insurance scheme for eligible families | An insurance card, a separate thing |
The ABHA number is an identifier, not a medical file. Records only get attached when a hospital, lab or you link them, and nothing is shared without your consent.
How do I create an ABHA number?
- Go to abha.abdm.gov.in and choose the Aadhaar option.
- Enter your Aadhaar number, read the terms and give consent.
- Enter the OTP sent to your Aadhaar-linked mobile. Your details are filled in from Aadhaar.
- Choose an ABHA address (you may also be asked to set a password).
If your mobile is not linked to Aadhaar, a participating hospital or health facility can register you instead. You can also start with your driving licence, but you will then need to verify your identity in person at an ABDM-participating facility. Creating and downloading the card is free at every step, so walk away from any website that asks you to pay for it.
Is ABHA card and Ayushman card same?
No. ABHA is your identity in the digital health system. The Ayushman card is issued under Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana and is what lets eligible families use that scheme's hospital insurance cover. Having an ABHA number does not make you eligible for free treatment. If insurance cover is what you are after, our guide to the KASP Karunya health card explains how eligibility works in Kerala.
What is the benefit of an ABHA card?
The practical benefit is faster registration and a single place to collect your records:
- Scan and Register: at a participating hospital you scan the QR code at the OP counter with an ABDM-enabled health records app, approve sharing your profile, and get a token on your phone and on the counter screens, with no paper form.
- Linked records: you can link reports from hospitals and labs to your account by approving each request in your app (sometimes with an OTP), and share them with a doctor when you choose.
- Apps: the NHA's own ABHA app, formerly the NDHM Health Records app, is on the Google Play Store; partner apps such as Aarogya Setu and DRiefcase also work with ABHA.
Is it worth making one in Kochi?
Make one, because it is free and takes minutes, but keep your expectations low. A September 2024 Business Standard report on ABDM dashboard data placed Kerala near the bottom of the states for OPD tokens under Scan and Share, the service's earlier name, with 7,983 issued, and private hospitals decide for themselves whether to use ABHA at all. In practice, plenty of Kochi patients will get more out of Kerala's own system for booking government hospital OP tickets, explained in our eHealth Kerala guide.
So keep carrying your paper reports, ask the OP counter whether they scan ABHA QR codes, and remember you can revoke sharing consent, deactivate the number or delete it later if you change your mind. For other official documents you can keep on your phone, see our DigiLocker guide, and find more explainers in Tech & AI.
Written By
Haila Kochi Editorial Team
Part of the Haila Kochi editorial team, covering the food, business, lifestyle, and people that make Kochi what it is.
