FHIR Implementation Guide for ABDM
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FHIR Implementation Guide for ABDM - Local Development build (v7.0.0) built by the FHIR (HL7® FHIR® Standard) Build Tools. See the Directory of published versions

International Patient Summary

The International Patient Summary (IPS) is a standardized, minimal, and non-exhaustive set of clinical data intended to support continuity of care and patient safety across healthcare systems and borders. Defined by Health Level Seven (HL7) and International Organization for Standardization (ISO), it is a key artifact that enables safe, efficient exchange of health information, particularly during unplanned or cross-jurisdictional care.

A patient summary is not a complete health record but rather the essential minimum dataset required to ensure safe and effective care. By making critical health information readily available, patient summaries improve patient safety and support consistent, informed decision-making by clinicians across different sectors and domains.

An IPS bundle is an electronic health record extract containing essential healthcare information about the patient, including at least the mandatory elements defined in the IPS dataset. The dataset is:

  • Minimal and non-exhaustive
  • Specialty-agnostic and condition-independent
  • Clinically relevant across contexts

As described in ISO 27269, the IPS was developed to support use cases such as unplanned, cross-border care.

Indian Patient Summary

Indian Patient Summary (IN PS) is an implementable FHIR specification derived from the International Patient Summary (IPS) version 2.0.0, as defined by Health Level Seven (HL7) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). The IN PS aligns closely with the HL7 IPS-UV specification, incorporating localization for the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM). This approach ensures international interoperability while supporting national adoption and consistency across the Indian digital health ecosystem.

Principles and Design

Indian Patient Summary (IN PS) follows the general principles and design conventions of the International Patient Summary Implementation Guide. Full details are available in the IPS IG.

Profiling Approach

Indian Patient Summary (IN PS) profiles are designed to ensure consistency with both national and international standards. All profiles defined in IN PS are derived from the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) base profiles published for India, thereby aligning with the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) ecosystem. At the same time, they are also made conformant to the International Patient Summary (IPS) profiles, ensuring global interoperability. To achieve this, the IN PS makes use of the imposeProfile extension, which allows implementers and validators to enforce dual conformance: the resource instance must be valid against both the [Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) profile] and the IPS profile. This ensures that while the national constraints are fully respected, the IPS constraints are not restated in the Indian Patient Summary profile but are still enforced at validation time.

Document Diagram

IN PS Document (Bundle)

The purpose of the Indian Patient Summary (IN PS) document is to define the logical structure and data set of the patient summary, encompassing documentation related IPS specification and patient-specific clinical information. It supports continuity of care and facilitates coordination across healthcare providers within and beyond national boundaries.

Indian Patient Summary (IN PS) is represented as a FHIR Bundle of type document. The Bundle contains multiple entries, with the first entry always being a Composition resource. All other entries are referenced from this Composition, ensuring a structured and comprehensive representation of the patient summary.

The IN PS document includes the following sections defined within the IN PS Composition, each serving a specific clinical purpose and ensuring standardized representation of patient information:

  • Mandatory Sections: Problems, Allergies and Intolerances, Immunizations, and Medication Summary
  • Recommended Sections: Results (Diagnostics), History of Procedures, and Medical Devices
  • Optional Sections: Advance Directives, Functional Status, History of Pregnancy, Plan of Care, Alerts, History of Past Problems, Patient Story, Social History, and Vital Signs


Document Diagram


IN PS Composition

The IN PS Composition defines the overall structure and organization of the Indian Patient Summary (IN PS). It serves as the central resource that links all relevant clinical information — such as problems, medications, allergies, immunizations, procedures, and other sections — into a unified, standards-based patient summary document.

This Composition ensures a consistent and interoperable representation of patient data by defining metadata, section hierarchy, and references to underlying FHIR resources. It supports the accurate exchange of summarized health information across systems and care settings, facilitating continuity of care and clinical decision-making.


IPS Composition Diagram


IN PS Section Details

This part outlines the sections included in the IN PS Composition. Each section specifies its purpose, structure, and constraints for capturing clinical information within the patient summary.

The following sections are defined in the IN PS Composition.

  • (M) denotes a Mandatory section that must be included in every IN PS document.
  • (R) denotes a Recommended section that should be included when applicable.
  • (O) denotes an Optional section that may be included based on clinical relevance or data availability.

IN PS Section: Problem List (M)

This mandatory section provides a concise overview of the patient’s active or current health conditions that remain unresolved or under monitoring. It represents one of the core clinical components of a patient summary.

  • If problems are reported, the Problems list SHALL contain one or more entries, and the Problem content status SHALL NOT be included.
  • If no active problems are present, a statement indicating the absence of problems SHALL be recorded in the Problem content status.
  • The section SHALL NOT be empty; if relevant data are unavailable, an explanatory statement MUST be included.
  • If no problem-related information exists or the patient has no known problems, this shall be documented using emptyReason at Composition.section or a referenced resource at Composition.section.entry.

Only active or current problems are to be listed, supporting continuity of care and providing a standardized overview of the patient’s health status.

This section reference the Condition (IN PS) profile, which defines constraints to represent active or current health problems or diagnoses relevant to the patient’s ongoing care. It is derived from the ABDM Condition profile and imposes additional requirements from the Condition (IPS) profile.

IN PS Section: Allergies and Intolerances (M)

This mandatory section identifies known allergies and intolerance to support safe and effective treatment, helping clinicians avoid adverse events. It records active and relevant historical allergies or intolerance, along with associated reactions. The section describes the type of reaction (e.g., rash, anaphylaxis), the causative agent, and optionally, the severity and certainty. It ensures that critical allergy information is consistently communicated for patient safety.

  • The section SHALL be included in the document. If allergy information is unknown or the patient has no known allergies, this SHALL be explicitly stated.
  • The section SHALL include either a clinical status (e.g., Active, Inactive, Resolved, Treated) or a list of AllergyIntolerance entries.
  • If the clinical status is Resolved, an End Date SHOULD be provided.
  • The section SHALL NOT be empty; if data are missing, an explanatory statement MUST be included using emptyReason at Composition.section or a referenced resource at Composition.section.entry.

- The section reference the Allergies and Intolerances (IN PS) profile, which defines constraints on the AllergyIntolerance resource to represent active and historical allergies or intolerances relevant to the patient’s ongoing care. It is derived from the ABDM AllergyIntolerance profile and imposes additional requirements from the AllergyIntolerance (IPS) profile.

IN PS Section: Medication Summary (M)

This mandatory section provides a list of medications relevant to the patient’s summary. It includes administered and non-administered medicines that are active or recently taken by the patient and are important for continuity of care.

  • If medication information is reported, the Medication list SHALL contain one or more entries, and the content status SHALL NOT be included.
  • If no medications are reported, the Medication list SHALL be omitted, and the content status SHALL record the absence of medication.
  • The section SHALL NOT be empty; if data are unavailable, an explanatory statement MUST be recorded using emptyReason at Composition.section or a referenced resource at Composition.section.entry. Only active or relevant medications should be included. The section may contain MedicationStatement or MedicationRequest resources,

This section reference the MedicationStatement (IN PS) or MedicationRequest (IN PS) profiles, ensuring accurate representation of the patient’s current medication profile and supporting safe and coordinated care..

- The MedicationStatement (IN PS) profile defines constraints on representing a patient’s medication usage. It is based on the ABDM MedicationStatement profile and imposes the additional requirements from MedicationStatement (IPS). It captures medications the patient is currently taking, has taken in the past, or is expected to take in the future, as reported by the patient, caregiver, or clinician.

- The MedicationRequest (IN PS) profile defines constraints for representing medication orders and requests. It is derived from the ABDM MedicationRequest profile and imposes additional requirements from MedicationRequest (IPS). It supports documentation of all types of medication orders—covering inpatient, outpatient, and community prescriptions, as well as over-the-counter drugs, nutritional supplements, and medication-related devices—capturing both supply details and administration instructions.

IN PS Section: Immunizations (M)

This mandatory section provides information about the patient’s immunization status and relevant vaccination history. Its primary purpose is to enable accurate communication of a patient’s immunization record to support clinical care and continuity across organizations and borders.

  • If immunization data are reported, the Immunization list SHALL contain one or more entries, and the content status SHALL NOT be included.
  • If no immunization data are available, the Immunization list SHALL be omitted, and the content status SHALL record the absence of vaccinations.
  • Known absence of immunizations or lack of available information MUST be explicitly documented using emptyReason at Composition.section or through a referenced resource at Composition.section.entry.

This section references the Immunization (IN PS) profile, which defines constraints for representing a patient’s immunization history. It is derived from the ABDM Immunization profile and imposes additional requirements from the Immunization (IPS) profile. The profile supports accurate recording of current and past vaccine administrations, ensuring consistent and standardized documentation across healthcare systems.

IN PS Section: Diagnostic Results (R)

This section assembles relevant observation results obtained for the patient, including laboratory, pathology, and radiology findings. It provides essential diagnostic and monitoring information that supports clinical decision-making and continuity of care.

  • Each Observation result SHALL include either a value or a subordinated observation result, but not both.
  • If no relevant results are available, this SHALL be explicitly stated using emptyReason at Composition.section or a referenced resource at Composition.section.entry.

The section ensures structured and standardized representation of diagnostic findings critical for patient assessment and follow-up.

  • TBD

This section may include or reference:

  • Laboratory and pathology results (e.g., blood tests, tissue analyses)
  • Radiology and imaging results (e.g., X-rays, CT, MRI)

IN PS Section: History of Procedures (R)

This section describes the patient’s past procedures that are relevant to the scope of the Patient Summary (IPS). It includes all types of procedures—diagnostic, therapeutic, and surgical—that contribute to understanding the patient’s clinical history.

  • If procedure information is reported, the Procedure list SHALL contain one or more entries, and the content status SHALL NOT be included.
  • If no procedures are reported, the Procedure list SHALL be omitted, and the content status SHALL indicate the absence of procedures.
  • If data are unavailable, a reason MUST be provided using emptyReason at Composition.section or a referenced resource at Composition.section.entry.

This section supports a comprehensive clinical overview by documenting significant procedures such as invasive diagnostics (e.g., cardiac catheterization), therapeutic procedures (e.g., dialysis), and surgical interventions (e.g., appendectomy).

This section references the Procedure (IN PS) profile, which defines constraints on representing a patient’s past diagnostic, therapeutic, or surgical procedures relevant to the Patient Summary. It is derived from the ABDM Procedure profile and imposes additional requirements from the Procedure (IPS) profile.

IN PS Section: Medical Devices (R)

This section documents the patient’s use of medical devices, whether implanted or external, that may influence current or future care. It provides essential information for clinicians to consider when planning treatment or interventions involving device-dependent patients.

  • If device information is reported, the Device list SHALL contain one or more entries, and the Device content status SHALL NOT be included.
  • If no devices are reported, the Device list SHALL be omitted, and the Device content status SHALL record the absence of devices.
  • If device data are unavailable, the reason MUST be documented using emptyReason at Composition.section or a referenced resource at Composition.section.entry.

This section may include both narrative descriptions and coded entries, detailing implanted devices (e.g., pacemakers, joint replacements) or external equipment (e.g., insulin pumps, oxygen delivery systems). It plays an increasingly important role as the definition and tracking of medical devices expand within healthcare systems.

This section references the[ Device (IN PS)] profile, which defines constraints on representing medical devices used by the patient, including implanted and external devices. It is derived from the ABDM [Device] profile and imposes additional requirements from the Device (IPS) profile.

IN PS Section: Advance Directives (O)

This section captures information about a patient’s advance directives, outlining their preferences for care in situations where they may be unable to communicate or make decisions. It is particularly valuable in unplanned or emergency care scenarios.

  • The section SHALL include either a reference to or a description of the Advance Directive; both may be provided.
  • Address details for the designated decision maker SHOULD be included within the Patient Address-book feature of the IPS.
  • Legal and interpretive aspects of registering or acting upon an Advance Directive are out of scope for this specification but SHOULD be considered in implementation.
  • If the section is present, it SHALL include information about the Advance Directive; it SHALL NOT be empty.

This section may include narrative descriptions, references to supporting documents, and links to consents that describe the patient’s expressed wishes for medical care. It supports ethical, informed, and patient-centered decision-making during critical or emergency situations.

This section references the [Consent (IN PS)] profile, which defines constraints for representing a patient’s advance directives and consent preferences. It is derived from the ABDM [Consent] profile and imposes additional requirements from the [Consent (IPS)] profile. The profile ensures consistent documentation of patient choices related to medical care, supporting ethical and informed decision-making across healthcare systems.

IN PS Section: Alerts (O)

This section brings the most critical healthcare information to immediate attention. It highlights extreme or urgent problems that require heightened awareness from the attending clinician.

  • The Alerts Section is designed to communicate information that warns or calls for preparedness, highlighting potential dangers or obstacles to care, either to or from the patient.
  • This section SHALL NOT duplicate content from the Problem Section, as doing so would reduce its value.
  • The attending clinician or team SHOULD assess the risk level of each alert based on the alert type and other IPS information. Predefined risk levels are discouraged, except in rare cases such as high suicidal intent.

This section fulfills the IN PS purpose of summarizing essential, high-priority clinical information, ensuring that critical risks or conditions are clearly communicated at the point of care.

IN PS Section: Functional Status (O)

This section describes the patient’s ability to perform activities of daily living and maintain functional independence. It captures information about physical, cognitive, or psychosocial limitations that may influence care planning, treatment decisions, and the need for ongoing assistance.

The section supports understanding of the patient’s overall well-being, particularly for individuals at higher risk or those requiring unplanned or long-term care. Future versions of this guide may include specific profiles for representing functional assessments and disability data.

  • The section SHALL include either a Functional Assessment, a Disability list, or both.
  • Each functional assessment entry SHALL contain either a result or a subordinated assessment entry, but not both. The subordinated entry SHALL include a result.
  • The section may be omitted if the information is not applicable to the patient population or unavailable without justification.

  • TBD

IN PS Section: History of Past Problems (O)

This section provides a record of the patient’s previous health problems or conditions that are no longer active. It offers a historical context to better understand the patient’s current and future healthcare needs.

  • The History of Past Problems Section lists conditions that were previously diagnosed or treated and are now resolved, closed, or not under current monitoring.
  • Focus SHOULD remain on past conditions that could still influence ongoing or future care planning.
  • The section is Optional. It may be omitted if the patient has no known past health problems or if historical data are unavailable.

This section ensures continuity of care by capturing the patient’s resolved health issues that contribute to understanding their overall medical history.

This section references the Condition (IN PS) profile, which defines constraints for representing past or resolved health conditions. It is derived from the ABDM Condition profile and imposes additional requirements from the Condition (IPS) profile. It represents historical clinical conditions, supporting continuity and context in patient care.

IN PS Section: History of Pregnancy (status and history summary) (O)

Review is needed

This optional section presents the patient’s current pregnancy status and, when available, information about past pregnancies and their outcomes.

  • If a pregnancy state is recorded, the expected delivery date SHALL be provided.
  • The current pregnancy SHALL be described in text, structured form, or both.
  • If included, the section SHALL contain data on the current pregnancy and MAY include details of previous pregnancies, if known.
  • Past pregnancies may be represented in one of four ways:
    • Status
    • Text
    • List of date–outcome pairs
    • Summary metric
      One method SHALL be provided, though additional descriptive details MAY be exchanged.
  • If complications related to a current pregnancy are the main complaint, they SHALL be documented under the Problems Section.
  • The section SHOULD appear only for patients of childbearing potential.

-TBD Decision on profiles is pending This section includes:

  • An Observation for pregnancy status, with an optional member Observation for the estimated delivery date.
  • An Observation summarizing pregnancy history.

IN PS Section: Patient Story (O)

Review Needed

  • TBD

IN PS Section: Plan of Care (O)

Review Needed

This optional section outlines the patient’s care plan, including goals, recommendations, and therapeutic actions intended to monitor, track, or improve the patient’s condition. It provides a structured or narrative overview of planned care activities that support ongoing treatment and health management.

  • Describes expectations for care, including proposals, goals, and actions for both medical and non-drug therapies (e.g., diet, exercise, physiotherapy).
  • The Care Plan SHALL be provided as text or structured data and MAY include multiple care plans rather than a single consolidated plan.
  • Each plan SHALL contain core recommendations, references to detailed care documents, or both.
  • If a Care Plan is unavailable, its absence MAY be documented with an explanatory statement.

This section complements the overall clinical picture by summarizing therapeutic intentions and ensuring clarity in the coordination and continuity of care.

This section references the [CarePlan (IN PS)] profile, which defines constraints for representing planned care activities, goals, and therapeutic actions relevant to a patient’s ongoing management. It is derived from the ABDM CarePlan profile and imposes additional requirements from the [CarePlan (IPS)] profile. This profile represents coordinated and goal-oriented care across healthcare settings.

IN PS Section: Social History (O)

This optional section presents observations on social factors that may affect a patient’s health and well-being. These factors, such as tobacco or alcohol use, can serve as indicators of lifestyle and potential risk contributors.

  • The section SHOULD include details on social factors like tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and other behaviors influencing health outcomes.
  • If relevant social information is available, it SHALL be included; however, no exception is raised if the section is absent.

-TDB -TDB

IN PS Section: Vital Signs (O)

This optional section compiles relevant observation results that record a patient’s vital signs, including primary indicators such as blood pressure, heart rate, body temperature, and respiratory rate, as well as additional measurements like height, weight, BMI, and oxygen saturation. Provenance and authoring information should be included, especially when data is collected from sources other than the IPS author.

  • Each Vital Sign entry shall include either a value or a subordinated Vital Sign, but not both. The subordinated Vital Sign must include a value.
  • The section may contain structured data, descriptive text, and timestamps for each observation.
  • If no information is available or data is unknown, this should be clearly indicated.

This section supports continuity of care by providing essential physiological data that reflects the patient’s current and historical health condition, enabling monitoring of clinical trends and baseline values.

-TBD