Inaugurating the Shivir, Dr. Mukesh Mahaling, Minister of Health & Family Welfare and IT, Odisha, highlighted the state’s achievements in AB PMJAY and ABDM. Odisha has shown strong performance in PM-JAY card distribution and expansion of cashless healthcare coverage. Dr. Mahaling visited the NHA stall, experiencing the VR walkthrough of an ABDM-enabled hospital, showcasing digital health innovations.
Strengthening National Health IT Systems
Dr. Sunil Kumar Barnwal, CEO, NHA, emphasized the national health IT platform’s role in standardizing multiple schemes while enabling states to adapt local implementation strategies. “This Chintan Shivir focuses on AB PM-JAY and ABDM as platforms for knowledge exchange, sharing best practices, and addressing state-level challenges,” he remarked.
Key Partnerships and Initiatives
NHA signed three MoUs with Bhashini, IISc Bengaluru, and NABH-QCI to enhance multilingual digital health access, AI-driven innovations, and strengthen healthcare quality and accreditation standards. Additionally, the Health Benefit Package (HBP) Manual – Part 2 and Best Practices Compendium of AB PM-JAY were launched during the event.
Participation and Deliberations
The event saw active engagement from representatives of nearly 30 States and Union Territories. Discussions focused on the Ayushman App, auto-adjudication, e-Sushrut@Clinic, Aarogya Setu App, DHIS guidelines, onboarding pharmacists on the Health Professional Registry (HPR), and the National Anti-Fraud Unit (NAFU).
AI and Digital Healthcare Integration
Day two of the Chintan Shivir addressed AI-driven healthcare solutions, IT system upgrades under AB PM-JAY, HBP rationalisation, IEC strategies, and capacity building through the NHA Digital Academy. The discussions reinforced the transformative role of artificial intelligence in delivering accessible, transparent, and efficient healthcare services across India.
Way Forward
The Shivir concluded with a strong emphasis on collaborative action, time-bound implementation of recommendations, and ongoing coordination between the Centre, States, healthcare institutions, and industry. Guided by the vision of ‘Viksit Bharat, Atmanirbhar Bharat, Swasth Bharat, Sashakt Bharat’, NHA continues to build a resilient, citizen-centric healthcare ecosystem in India.