ABDM Setup

Overview

Setting up ABDM (Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission) integration enables your facility to create and link ABHA Health IDs, share health records, and access patient data from other providers.

Important: NICE HMS has already completed the ABDM sandbox integration and is approved by NHA for production use. You do not need to go through sandbox testing — that is the software company's responsibility, not the hospital's. You simply need your HFR ID and a software linkage step.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, you need:

1. An HPR ID (Health Professional Registry ID) for at least one doctor at your facility — created on the ABDM government portal.
2. An HFR ID (Health Facility Registry ID) for your facility — created on the same portal, using the HPR ID as reference.

If you need help with HPR or HFR registration, contact NICE HMS support — we assist with this as part of implementation.

Step 1: Enter HFR ID in NICE HMS

1. Log in as Admin.
2. From the sidebar, go to Admin → click Organization → click Edit.
3. Enter your HFR ID in the ABDM Facility ID field.
4. Click Submit.

Step 2: Complete Software Linkage

After entering your HFR ID in NICE HMS:

1. Contact NICE HMS support — we will provide your Bridge ID.
2. Go to the ABDM government portal and log in.
3. Navigate to Software Linkage and enter the Bridge ID provided by NICE HMS.
4. NICE HMS coordinates this step with you to ensure it is completed correctly.

The Bridge ID is sensitive. Misuse will be reported to NHA and PMJAY.

Once the software linkage is approved by NHA, ABDM features are activated for your facility.

What Happens After Setup

After HFR ID is entered and software linkage is complete:

• ABHA Health ID creation and linking is available from the patient record.
• HIP-initiated linking runs automatically when clinical documents are finalized.
• HIU data pull (fetching records from other facilities) is available.

No further configuration is needed. NICE HMS manages callback URLs, API credentials, and gateway communication automatically.

FAQ

Q: Do I need to test in the ABDM sandbox before going live? A: No. This is the biggest misconception about ABDM in India. The software company (NICE HMS) goes through the sandbox, gets the HIMS approved by NHA, and then moves to production. As a hospital or clinic, you use the already-approved software — you do not need sandbox access. You only need your HFR ID and the software linkage step.

Q: How does NICE HMS get ABDM approval? A: NICE HMS underwent sandbox integration with NHA, passed all milestone certifications (M1, M2, M3), and is approved for production. When NHA updates ABDM APIs or requirements, NICE HMS handles the recertification — hospitals don't need to do anything.

Q: What is the difference between HPR ID and HFR ID? A: HPR ID (Health Professional Registry ID) is for individual healthcare professionals — doctors, nurses, technicians. HFR ID (Health Facility Registry ID) is for the facility itself — the hospital, clinic, or lab. You need an HPR ID first (for a doctor) to create an HFR ID for the facility. Both are created on the ABDM government portal.

Q: Do I need separate registration for each ABDM milestone (M1, M2, M3)? A: No. Registration is per facility. Once your HFR ID is linked and software linkage is approved, you get access to all milestones.

Q: Does each branch need its own HFR ID? A: Yes. Each physical facility location needs its own HFR ID, configured per organization in NICE HMS.

Q: Can I use NICE HMS without ABDM? A: Yes. NICE HMS works fully without ABDM — OPD, IPD, Pharmacy, Lab, Billing, and all other modules function independently. ABDM adds interoperability and is required only if you process insurance claims through NHCX or want to share records electronically with other ABDM-connected providers.