Union Health Secretary Calls for Wider Adoption of ABDM & AB PM-JAY to Drive India's Digital Health Transformation
Advertisement
The Union Health Secretary also highlighted the importance of protecting patient information, stressing that data privacy, cybersecurity and the responsible use of health data are essential to sustaining public trust in the country's expanding digital health ecosystem.
As Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) and Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) continue to expand across the country, Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava has called on States and Union Territories to prioritise their wider adoption and meaningful utilisation.
Addressing a national review meeting, she emphasised that digital health initiatives must deliver tangible value for citizens, healthcare professionals and health facilities, while maintaining strong safeguards for data privacy and cybersecurity.
The Union Health Secretary has emphasised that the next stage of digital health should focus on ensuring these platforms are actively used across the healthcare system to improve patient care and service delivery.
The remarks were made during the National Health Authority's two-day National Review Meeting on AB PM-JAY and ABDM, which brought together officials from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the National Health Authority, State Health Agencies and other stakeholders to assess progress and define priorities for the next phase of healthcare reforms.
Discussions centred on strengthening implementation, sharing successful state models, improving financial sustainability and accelerating digital transformation across India's health system.
Addressing the gathering, Srivastava said, "AB PM-JAY and the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) have emerged as integral pillars of India's healthcare ecosystem. As these digital public health platforms continue to mature, the focus must now shift towards their wider adoption and effective utilisation across the health system."
She further urged States and Union Territories to maximise the use of digital health services and applications, adding that "the true value of these initiatives lies in making them useful for citizens, healthcare professionals and health facilities alike."
The Union Health Secretary also highlighted the importance of protecting patient information, stressing that data privacy, cybersecurity and the responsible use of health data are essential to sustaining public trust in the country's expanding digital health ecosystem.
The review meeting also examined ways to strengthen financial management under AB PM-JAY, with participants discussing improved fund utilisation, better financial planning and timely release of grants to States and Union Territories.
Revised grant-in-aid guidelines and measures to enhance financial accountability were also reviewed to support more effective implementation of both flagship programmes.
Several States showcased approaches that could strengthen healthcare delivery through AB PM-JAY.
Kerala highlighted the integration of its state health protection programmes with the national scheme to expand access and improve financial protection.
Tamil Nadu shared how revenues generated through claims under its Chief Minister's Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme have been reinvested into public hospitals, supporting infrastructure upgrades, medical equipment, human resources and digital systems.
The National Health Authority demonstrated advanced health analytics tools designed to support evidence-based decision-making, while the National Medical Commission outlined ongoing efforts to expand ABDM adoption across medical colleges through HMIS integration, wider use of ABHA-linked clinical records and digital performance dashboards.
Participants also explored the responsible use of artificial intelligence to strengthen clinical decision support, operational efficiency and health system planning.
The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment from the Centre and States to strengthen implementation of AB PM-JAY and ABDM through collaborative governance, digital innovation and evidence-based policymaking.
Stay tuned for more such updates on Digital Health News
