Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi
Udupi, Apr 23: Ajjarkad district hospital in Udupi is making significant strides towards complete digitalisation with the objective of achieving paperless administration and a transparent healthcare system. Earlier, patient treatment details, scanning records, and blood test reports were maintained in paper form, requiring patients to preserve and carry them during follow-up visits. However, this system has now changed, and complete patient information is available in digital format.
The state government has implemented this project on a pilot basis in Udupi, Ballari, Dharwad, and Tumakuru districts. Among these, Udupi district hospital has already achieved 70 percent success and stands first among the four districts.
Previously, the ‘e-Hospital’ system faced frequent server issues, leading to overcrowding. To address this, the ‘Druke’ app has now been introduced, which functions without server disruptions. From June 2025 to April 17, 2026, a total of 45,915 ABHA (Ayushman Bharat Health Account) accounts have been registered.
Patients need to have an Android mobile phone to view their treatment details. Nursing students stationed at the hospital are assisting patients in downloading the ABHA app.
By creating an ABHA account using their Aadhaar number and scanning the hospital’s QR code, patients can access complete details of doctor consultations, scans, lab reports, and treatment directly on their mobile phones.
Once a patient’s issue is registered at the hospital help desk, a list of available doctors is generated. Doctors can access patients’ previous records through the ‘Druke’ app on their tablets and provide treatment accordingly. At present, prescriptions are still being issued in handwritten form, but in the future, they will be sent digitally directly to the pharmacy. For patients without smartphones, treatment details are recorded on doctors’ iPads, ensuring no disruption in care.
Currently, 19 tablets and additional computers have been provided at a cost of Rs 5 lac. However, certain technical and administrative challenges are hindering the achievement of 100 percent digitalisation.
Postgraduate medical students are not permitted to use the app, which causes delays in data entry. Additionally, when doctors visit wards for rounds, there is a shortage of tablets in the OPD. Complete paperless operations will be possible only with the provision of additional tablets and staff.
The project is considered highly beneficial, and greater success can be achieved if all patients have Android mobile phones. At present, Udupi stands first in the state. A report on the pros and cons of the project and the required facilities has already been submitted to the government, said Dr Ashok, district surgeon, Udupi district hospital.