India Highlights Ayushman Bharat, Digital Health Ecosystem at UNGA81

According to the Health Secretary, more than 900 million citizens now have unique health identities, while interoperable digital registries and ABHA-enabled health records are supporting continuity of care and access to health services.

India has highlighted its Ayushman Bharat programmes and expanding digital health infrastructure as key components of its efforts to advance universal health coverage, with Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava pointing to Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, AB-PMJAY and e-Sanjeevani at global health meetings in New York.

India has showcased its public health and digital health initiatives at two global health engagements held on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA81).

At the Seventh Annual Ministerial Meeting of the Group of Friends of Universal Health Coverage and Global Health, the Health Secretary has highlighted the role of more than 1.8 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs in bringing primary healthcare closer to communities.

The centres provide services spanning reproductive and child health, non-communicable disease screening and management, mental health, elderly and palliative care, as well as preventive and curative care.

The government has also positioned Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) as a mechanism for improving financial protection among vulnerable and underserved populations.

The Free Drugs and Diagnostics Service Initiative and the Prime Minister’s National Dialysis Programme were also highlighted for their role in reducing patients’ healthcare expenses.

According to the Health Secretary, more than 900 million citizens now have unique health identities, while interoperable digital registries and ABHA-enabled health records are supporting continuity of care and access to health services.

Telemedicine has also expanded significantly through e-Sanjeevani, which has facilitated more than 497 million teleconsultations.

The digital health ecosystem has additionally incorporated technologies and delivery models such as teleradiology, AI-enabled X-rays, and Mobile Medical Units to extend services to remote and underserved communities.

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