An ABHA (Ayushman Bharat Health Account) number is a 14-digit health ID that lets hospitals, labs and insurers link your medical records to you, with your consent. You can create one yourself in about ten minutes on the national portal or the ABHA app using Aadhaar or a driving licence, or ask the help desk at an ABDM-participating government hospital to do it for you. The state health guides we checked list no fee for it.
It matters more in Chennai now than a year ago. Since 26 June 2026, Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGGH) and Government Kilpauk Medical College Hospital have run an ABDM-linked online outpatient registration system, and doctors there record prescriptions and test results digitally. Those records can then be pulled up at other ABDM-integrated hospitals through your digital health ID. Nationally, more than 90 crore ABHA accounts exist, according to a July 2026 PIB backgrounder.
Before you start
Keep your phone with you. The most common reason people get stuck is an Aadhaar number linked to an old mobile number.
| Document | Who needs it | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Aadhaar number | Most applicants | The OTP goes to the mobile number linked to Aadhaar |
| Driving licence | Those who choose not to use Aadhaar | Offered as the alternative route on the portal |
| Mobile phone | Everyone | Receives OTPs and runs the ABHA or Aarogya Setu app |
| A chosen ABHA address | Everyone | A username such as name@abdm, used to share records |
Source: Uttarakhand Health Department ABHA guide; PIB, July 2026
How to create your ABHA and link records
- Open the portal or app. Go to abha.abdm.gov.in on a phone or computer, or install the official ABHA app. Aarogya Setu 2.0, launched on 29 June 2026, also offers ABHA creation and a personal health record, according to the PIB backgrounder.
- Choose Aadhaar or driving licence. Pick the route that matches the ID you have with you. The state health department guide lists both options.
- Verify with OTP. Enter the one-time password sent to your Aadhaar-linked mobile. Never read this OTP out to a caller who says they are from a hospital or insurer.
- Create your ABHA address. Choose a short handle in the form yourname@abdm. The 14-digit number identifies you; the address is what you type or share day to day.
- Download the ABHA card. Save the PDF card with your number and QR code. A screenshot on your phone is enough at most counters.
- Use Scan and Share at the OP counter. At hospitals that display an ABHA QR code, scan it with your app to send your details and get a queue token instead of filling a paper form. ABDM says records created at such hospitals are linked to your account.
- Link and view records in your app. Open the ABHA app or another ABDM-enabled health record app to see linked prescriptions and reports, and add records from facilities you visit.
- Approve or refuse consent requests. When a doctor elsewhere asks to see your history, the request arrives in your app. Consent is time-bound and can be withdrawn, the PIB note says.
How long it takes and where it works
Creating the number is instant once the OTP is verified. Linking is gradual: only hospitals and labs that are integrated with ABDM can push records to your account, so a private clinic that still writes on paper will not appear. In Chennai, start with the government medical college hospitals. The June rollout began at RGGGH and Kilpauk and is to be extended to all government hospitals in phases, with manual registration continuing for those who cannot use phones.
If you need help in person, the health department guidance says ABDM-participating government hospitals, clinics and Common Service Centres can create the account for you. Carry your Aadhaar and the phone linked to it.
OPD registration with Scan and Share took 2 to 5 minutes against roughly an hour earlier, an IIHMR study cited in the July 2026 PIB backgrounder found.
Common mistakes
- Creating a second ABHA because you forgot the first. Search for the old one on the portal using your Aadhaar-linked mobile before creating a new account.
- Using a relative’s phone for the OTP. Your account recovery and consent requests will then go to their phone.
- Expecting old paper files to appear on their own. Only records from ABDM-linked facilities show up; keep your discharge summaries.
- Approving every consent request without reading it. Check which hospital is asking and for how long before you tap approve.
If it goes wrong
If the OTP never arrives, the mobile number on your Aadhaar is probably out of date; update it at an Aadhaar centre and try again, or use the driving licence route. If a Chennai government hospital cannot find your ABHA at the counter, ask for the digital registration desk, where RGGGH’s technical team handles the QR and token process. For general health questions, Tamil Nadu’s 24-hour 104 helpline offers information and counselling, according to a state press release.
If you suspect someone has misused your ABHA, revoke all active consents in your app first, then report it to the hospital whose name appears in the request.
Quick answers
Is ABHA compulsory for treatment at Chennai government hospitals?
No. Hospitals that moved to digital registration still run manual counters, according to the health department’s June 2026 announcement.
What is the difference between an ABHA number and an ABHA address?
The number is a 14-digit ID. The address is a username such as name@abdm that you use to log in and share records.
Can I see my records on my phone?
Yes, through the ABHA app or another ABDM-enabled personal health record app, for records from linked facilities.
Can a doctor see my history without permission?
No. A facility can view earlier records only after you give consent, and you can withdraw it.
Information checked against official sources on 19 October 2026. Fees, dates and rules can change; confirm on the linked official pages before acting.
Sources
- Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission backgrounder, July 2026 (Press Information Bureau)
- ABDM press note on ABHA and Scan and Share (National Health Authority, abdm.gov.in)
- ABHA registration guide (Department of Medical Health and Family Welfare, Government of Uttarakhand)
- Press Release No. 646 on the 104 helpline, 6 May 2024 (DIPR, Government of Tamil Nadu)
