MP Govt to Launch AI-Powered ‘SUMAN SAKHI’ Chatbot for Women’s Health Services

The chatbot will function round-the-clock in Hindi, providing pregnant women with information on antenatal care, high-risk conditions, and relevant government health and welfare schemes.

Madhya Pradesh is preparing to introduce SUMAN SAKHI, an artificial intelligence-powered // chatbot designed to improve access to women’s health information.

The tool has been developed by the state’s National Health Mission (NHM) in collaboration with the Madhya Pradesh State Electronics Development Corporation (MPSeDC).

Officials said the chatbot will function round-the-clock in Hindi, providing pregnant women with information on antenatal care, high-risk conditions, and relevant government health and welfare schemes.

The initiative is part of the state’s efforts to expand digital health services and strengthen outreach to rural and urban populations alike.

WhatsApp-Based Access & Phased Rollout

The chatbot will be available directly on WhatsApp, a platform already widely used across Madhya Pradesh. Authorities said this choice is meant to lower barriers to adoption by eliminating the need for separate applications.

In its first phase, SUMAN SAKHI will respond to queries related to maternal health and pregnancy.

Later stages are expected to expand its scope to cover additional health and social welfare programmes for women. Officials indicated the service will be rolled out in select districts initially, with gradual expansion across the state.

“The chatbot has been developed to provide simple and accessible information on maternal health. It will act as a support system for women in need of guidance on health schemes and pregnancy-related care,” Dr. Saloni Sidana, Mission Director of NHM Madhya Pradesh, said in a statement.

Part of ‘Swasth Nari, Sashakt Parivar’ Campaign

The launch is linked to the state’s “Swasth Nari, Sashakt Parivar” campaign. Local media have reported that PM Modi is expected to inaugurate the initiative during his upcoming visit to Madhya Pradesh, although the state government has not yet issued a formal confirmation of the event’s schedule.

Authorities said the chatbot is among the first AI-based digital tools for women’s health introduced at the state level in India. Officials also noted that further details on technical safeguards, user privacy, and integration with other health services would be provided at the time of the official rollout.

By embedding an AI assistant in a widely used messaging app, Madhya Pradesh aims to strengthen awareness of health entitlements and deliver guidance to women who may not otherwise have regular access to healthcare providers.

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