. This initiative is part of the Know Your Doctor (KYD) service aimed at addressing the issue of unqualified medical practitioners, or quacks.){kind=link}
The Indian government is launching Digital Doctor certificates for verified healthcare professionals under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM). This initiative is part of the Know Your Doctor (KYD) service aimed at addressing the issue of unqualified medical practitioners, or quacks.
QR Code Verification
Each certificate will include a QR code, similar to those on CoWin vaccination certificates, which patients can scan to verify the doctor’s credentials. Doctors are required to display these certificates prominently in their clinics.
Verification Process
Doctors’ profiles will be verified by state government-appointed verifiers or state medical councils before issuing the certificates. This stringent process ensures that only qualified medical professionals receive certification.
Tackling Quackery
The Indian Medical Association estimates there are about one million quacks in India, including 4,00,000 practitioners of Indian medicine. The KYD service aims to reduce this number significantly.
The National Health Authority (NHA) is organizing a workshop on May 30 to explain ABDM and the new certification process to medical councils and verifiers. This workshop will focus on encouraging quick onboarding, verification, and certification issuance.
Healthcare Professional Repository
ABDM is creating a inclusive database of medical professionals, which proved challenging during the COVID-19 pandemic. This repository will help the government efficiently manage and utilize healthcare manpower as needed.
Current Progress
To date, approximately 139,000 doctors have been verified and received their certificates. Additionally, over 200,000 nurses are enrolled under the national health digital mission but are yet to receive their certificates. Currently, 76.56% of registered medical professionals are from the public sector.
NHA plans to expand the registry to include dentists, allied healthcare professionals, pharmacists, and other categories of healthcare workers. This dynamic data will aid in policy-making, trend analysis, and workforce planning.
Placing QR codes in clinics will ensure patients can verify their doctors’ qualifications, increasing trust and transparency in healthcare.
Besides the Healthcare Professionals Registry (HPR), ABDM includes the Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) for registering individuals and the Healthcare Facility Registry (HFR) for authorized healthcare facilities.