Officials during the launching inaugural workshop for the "Model District and Model Facilities Initiative" at Zone Naithu by The Park in Chümoukedima on June 18. (DIPR Photo)
Chümoukedima, June 18 (MExN): The National Health Authority (NHA), in collaboration with the Directorate of Health and Family Welfare, Nagaland, on June 18 organised a state-level inaugural workshop for the "Model District and Model Facilities Initiative" under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), marking a major step towards strengthening the state's digital healthcare ecosystem.
The one-day workshop was held at Zone Niathu by The Park, Chümoukedima.
Officially launching the Model District initiative, Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Authority, Dr Sunil Kumar Barnwal, IAS, said the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission aims to transform healthcare delivery through a citizen-centric and digitally connected ecosystem.
He observed that healthcare services in the country had traditionally functioned through fragmented systems and said ABDM provides an opportunity to integrate healthcare facilities, healthcare professionals and patients through a consent-based digital platform. The initiative, he said, is aimed not only at improving treatment but also at promoting preventive healthcare and wellness through evidence-based planning and the use of health data.
Highlighting the importance of the Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA), Barnwal said the unique digital health identity would enable citizens to securely access and manage their health records while ensuring continuity of care across different healthcare facilities. He said ABDM would empower patients by giving them greater control over their health information and facilitate seamless access to healthcare services.
Referring to the Health Facility Registry (HFR) and Healthcare Professionals Registry (HPR), he said the digital registries would help citizens locate verified healthcare facilities and professionals across the country while enhancing transparency and accessibility within the healthcare system.
Barnwal stressed the need for healthcare institutions to transition from paper-based systems to end-to-end digital systems, saying digital registration and billing alone were insufficient. He called upon healthcare facilities to fully integrate clinical records and service delivery systems with ABDM, adding that successful implementation would require both technological adoption and a change of mindset.
Emphasising the importance of digital health data, he said quality digital records would support better planning, informed decision-making and the development of innovative technology-driven healthcare solutions in the future. He also urged all empanelled hospitals under AB-PMJAY and CMHIS to adopt complete digital processes and become part of the national digital health ecosystem, while calling on all stakeholders to work collectively towards creating a robust, transparent and patient-centric healthcare system in Nagaland.
Delivering the welcome address, Principal Director of Health and Family Welfare, Dr Mereninla Senlem, described the occasion as an important landmark in Nagaland's digital health journey and reaffirmed the department's commitment to building a more connected, efficient and patient-centric healthcare system through ABDM.
She said the selection of Dimapur as the Model District and District Hospital Dimapur as the Model Public Health Facility presented an opportunity to demonstrate how digital health solutions could strengthen healthcare delivery, improve continuity of care and enhance health outcomes.
Senlem emphasised that the success of the initiative would depend on the collective efforts of healthcare providers, administrators and technical partners. She said the workshop provided a valuable platform for participants to learn, collaborate and chart the way forward for successful implementation of the Model District initiative and urged stakeholders to actively participate and share their experiences and ideas.
Deputy Commissioner of Dimapur, Dr Tinojongshi Chang, NCS, said the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission was harnessing digital transformation to make healthcare services more accessible, transparent and patient-friendly.
Thanking the organisers for selecting Dimapur as the Model District, he described it as recognition of the collaborative efforts of the Health Department, healthcare workers and other stakeholders. He called upon healthcare professionals to ensure that quality healthcare services reach the grassroots and every citizen benefits from the initiative, while assuring the district administration's full support for its successful implementation.
