Gujarat launches unique 'Health Passport' initiative to track health journey of children from birth to 18 years
Gandhinagar, July 1
In a first-of-its-kind initiative aimed at strengthening pediatric healthcare, the Gujarat government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, has introduced the 'Health Passport' system to track the health parameters of children and adolescents across the state.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has often said that the foundation of a 'Healthy India' lies in ensuring a healthy childhood.
Under School Health - Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (SHRBSK) , every child in Gujarat from birth to age 18 will receive a 'Health Passport'. More than just a health card, it will be a complete and authentic record of a child's health journey from birth through adolescence. The statewide initiative was launched on June 27, 2026, by the Union Minister for Home Affairs and Cooperation, Amit Shah, in the presence of the Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel.
Under SH-RBSK, around 1.89 crore children in Gujarat undergo annual health check-ups conducted by 992 mobile health teams. While the records of these check-ups are currently maintained on a digital portal, parents and children do not have a handy document that can be readily used during routine consultations, medical treatment, or follow-up visits. The 'Health Passport' has been introduced to bridge this gap by providing every child with a systematic, comprehensive, and easily accessible record of their health history, a release said.
The process to get a 'Health Passport' is simple and convenient. Parents do not need to provide any additional documents to get a Health Passport for their children. Health screenings will be conducted by SH-RBSK mobile health teams at Anganwadis, schools, madrasas, gurukuls, and special schools. Post-screening, once the child's details are entered into the digital platform, the Health Passport will be issued at the screening site itself. The renewal process is even easier. Health Passports of children up to five years of age and those not attending school will be renewed annually by the Medical Officer (MO) of the Primary Health Centre (PHC), while Health Passports of school-going children will be renewed by the school principal.
The Health Passport will be the master document containing each child's complete medical history. It will include the child's basic details along with a comprehensive record of age-specific health check-ups from birth to 18 years of age. The passport will also track the four key health categories (4Ds) under SH-RBSK: Defects at birth, Deficiencies, Childhood Diseases, Developmental Delays and Disabilities. Plus, it will record details of the child's physical and mental growth and development, nutritional status, referral services, nutrition and health guidance, lifestyle advice, and emergency helpline numbers. In essence, the Health Passport will bring together every important aspect of a child's health, providing families with a single, comprehensive record for easy reference throughout childhood.
The biggest strength of this initiative is its digital integration.
While the physical Health Passport will remain with parents, all information will be synchronised with the SH-RBSK digital portal, ensuring seamless record management. If the physical Health Passport is lost or damaged, a new copy can be obtained from the mobile health team. The Gujarat government's Health Passport initiative goes beyond simply maintaining medical records. It seeks to make parents active partners in managing their children's health, strengthening the connection between children, families, and the healthcare system.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Good initiative on paper, but will it work in the field? 992 mobile teams for 1.89 crore children sounds like a lot, but in remote areas, especially kutch and saurashtra, we need to ensure regular visits and proper data entry. The digital sync is important, but internet connectivity in rural Gujarat can be patchy. Let's see how this plays out. 🧐
This is exactly what we need! Tracking the 4Ds - defects, deficiencies, diseases, and developmental delays - from birth itself is a game changer for early intervention. So many children in India miss out on timely treatment because parents don't realize something is wrong until it's too late. The health passport will help catch issues early. Great move by the Gujarat government and Amit Shah ji! 🇮🇳
Impressive to see state-level innovation in public health. In the US, we rely on fragmented records from different pediatricians. This kind of centralized, longitudinal health tracking from birth to adulthood is something even developed countries often struggle with. The digital integration is smart - it gives families access while maintaining a centralized database for better policy-making. Hope the privacy safeguards are strong though!
As a doctor in a PHC, I've seen firsthand how patients come with missing or incomplete health histories. This passport will make our job easier - no more guessing about vaccination status or past illnesses. And the fact that it's renewed at schools and PHCs means it stays updated even as children move. Practical and well thought out. One small suggestion: include a QI code for quick digital access. 👨⚕️
I appreciate the effort, but
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