The National Health Authority (NHA), under the aegis of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, convened a two-day Chintan Shivir in Pune on the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) and the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM). The Shivir brings together senior officials from the Central and State Governments to undertake a comprehensive review of progress, deliberate on emerging priorities, and chart a forward-looking roadmap for strengthening implementation of these flagship health initiatives.

The inaugural session was addressed by Smt. Meghana Sakore Bordikar, Hon’ble Minister of State for Public Health, Government of Maharashtra. Emphasising a vision of preventive, inclusive, and technology-enabled healthcare, she highlighted the importance of early awareness and prevention. She also underscored Maharashtra’s expanding initiatives in women’s health and the growing role of digital technologies and artificial intelligence in healthcare delivery. Reaffirming the State’s commitment to AB PM-JAY and ABDM, she expressed confidence that Maharashtra will set new benchmarks in implementation.

The first day of the Chintan Shivir witnessed several significant announcements and strategic initiatives aimed at strengthening institutional capacity and advancing India’s digital health ecosystem. These included the release of a comprehensive Compendium of Guidelines to streamline and standardise AB PM-JAY implementation, the unveiling of the NHCX Strategy Paper to enable a unified and interoperable health claims ecosystem, and the release of the ABDM Index Reference Guidebook to facilitate structured assessment of ABDM implementation across States and Union Territories. In a major step towards capacity building, the NHA Digital Health Academy was launched as a national platform to develop a skilled and future-ready healthcare workforce. Further, Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were exchanged with CHAKRA (Centre for Health Applied Knowledge and Research Autonomy) and NABH to strengthen training, research, and institutional capacity.

Setting the tone for the deliberations, Dr. Sunil Kumar Barnwal, CEO, NHA, highlighted the pivotal role of integrated digital platforms in enabling real-time monitoring, enhancing inter-state coordination, and ensuring scalable and efficient implementation of health schemes. He outlined key strategic priorities, including the adoption of artificial intelligence in healthcare, auto-adjudication of claims, advanced data analytics, accelerated ABDM adoption, and sustained capacity building through the Digital Health Academy. Emphasising the need for a paradigm shift, he called for a transition from a predominantly curative approach to one that is preventive and predictive, aligned with the vision of building a resilient healthcare system under Viksit Bharat 2047.

A comprehensive, data-driven review of AB PM-JAY implementation was presented, highlighting key achievements as well as areas requiring focused attention. The session also showcased the Ayushman App and WhatsApp chatbot, which have significantly improved accessibility and ease of availing services for beneficiaries. Discussions on auto-adjudication demonstrated how technology is being leveraged to enable faster, transparent, and impartial processing of claims under AB PM-JAY.

Deliberations on ABDM emphasised the need to move beyond awareness towards sustained usage and deeper integration. The State of Andhra Pradesh presented its innovative applications of artificial intelligence in healthcare, while Maharashtra shared its progress under AB PM-JAY and MJPJAY, along with notable advancements in ABDM adoption, reflecting the steady expansion of digital health services. The integration of the National Health Claims Exchange (NHCX) was underscored as a transformative reform aimed at unifying and standardising the health claims ecosystem, with States playing a central role in accelerating nationwide adoption. The initiative is expected to reduce fragmentation, expedite claim settlements, and enhance efficiency and transparency across the system. Key initiatives such as SAHI and BODH were also highlighted as critical enablers shaping the next phase of ABDM and strengthening India’s digital health architecture.

A focused session on fund utilisation under AB PM-JAY and ABDM emphasised prudent financial management, timely release and optimal utilisation of funds, and adherence to NHA guidelines to ensure accountability and improved outcomes.

The Chintan Shivir also provided a valuable platform for States and Union Territories to exchange experiences, share best practices, and showcase innovations, thereby reinforcing the spirit of cooperative federalism in strengthening healthcare delivery across the country. The first day laid a strong foundation for deeper deliberations on outcomes, innovation, and data-driven governance, which will continue on the second day of the Shivir.

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SR

 

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