NHA Reviews Ayushman Bharat Progress, Sets New Roadmap for Digital Healthcare Reforms

New Delhi, July 18, 2026;

The National Health Authority (NHA) has wrapped up its two-day National Review Meeting on the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) and the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), outlining fresh priorities to strengthen India’s healthcare delivery through digital innovation, financial sustainability and closer coordination between the Centre and States.

Held at Madhya Pradesh Bhawan in New Delhi on July 17 and 18, the meeting brought together senior officials from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the National Health Authority, State Health Agencies and development partners to evaluate the performance of the two flagship health initiatives and identify strategies for their next phase of implementation.

The second day of discussions focused on improving the financial sustainability of public healthcare programmes, strengthening government hospitals, expanding the use of digital health platforms, and integrating advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and health analytics into healthcare planning and service delivery.

Union Health Secretary Smt. Punya Salila Srivastava, while addressing the valedictory session, said that AB PM-JAY and ABDM have become foundational components of India’s healthcare system. She stressed that the next stage of these initiatives should prioritise wider adoption of digital health services and ensure they deliver practical benefits to patients, healthcare professionals and medical institutions. She also highlighted the importance of safeguarding data privacy, cybersecurity and responsible management of digital health information to maintain public confidence.

Financial management remained a major area of discussion, with participants reviewing fund utilisation, grant management and measures to improve accountability in implementing both schemes. States and Union Territories were encouraged to strengthen financial planning and ensure timely utilisation of allocated resources.

Several states presented successful models that could be replicated elsewhere. Kerala shared its experience of integrating state-funded health protection programmes with AB PM-JAY to expand healthcare coverage, while Tamil Nadu highlighted how revenue generated through insurance claims has been reinvested to upgrade public hospitals by improving infrastructure, medical equipment, digital systems and human resources.

The National Health Authority also demonstrated newly developed analytical tools designed to help states monitor healthcare utilisation, hospital performance, beneficiary movement and district-level accessibility. Officials said these data-driven platforms will assist governments in identifying service gaps and making more informed policy decisions.

The meeting also explored ways to improve hospital financing through the National Health Claims Exchange (NHCX), which is expected to speed up claim settlements and improve cash flow for empanelled hospitals by reducing delays in reimbursements.

National Medical Commission Secretary Dr. Raghav Langer highlighted ongoing efforts to integrate medical colleges with the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission by adopting ABDM-compliant Hospital Management Information Systems, promoting ABHA-linked clinical records and developing digital assessment tools for medical institutions.

Artificial intelligence also featured prominently during the discussions. AI-based healthcare solutions were showcased to demonstrate their potential in supporting clinical decision-making, improving operational efficiency, strengthening health planning and delivering more citizen-focused healthcare services. Officials emphasised that AI adoption must remain secure, ethical and scalable.

During the event, the National Health Authority honoured states and Union Territories for exceptional performance across multiple implementation indicators under AB PM-JAY and ABDM.

Under AB PM-JAY, Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim and Lakshadweep received recognition for achieving the highest number of VVS Cards per lakh population in their respective categories. Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands were honoured for recording the highest number of biometric-authenticated pre-authorisations.

For ABDM, awards were presented for achievements in digital health infrastructure and service delivery. Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Ladakh and Lakshadweep were recognised for registry saturation, while Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh were honoured for outstanding health record linking performance. Uttar Pradesh received recognition for its achievements in ABHA creation and the adoption of Scan and Pay services.

National Health Authority CEO Dr. Sunil Kumar Barnwal said the review meeting had evolved into an effective platform for knowledge sharing between the Centre and States. He noted that the exchange of best practices and technology-driven solutions would help improve programme implementation and support the country’s ongoing digital health transformation.

The meeting concluded with a collective commitment from the Centre and States to deepen cooperation, strengthen digital health infrastructure, improve financial efficiency and expand access to affordable, technology-enabled healthcare across India. Officials expressed confidence that the outcomes of the review meeting would shape the next phase of reforms aimed at building a more inclusive, resilient and citizen-centric healthcare system.