Centre and States Review Progress of Ayushman Bharat Schemes, Outline Roadmap for Better Healthcare Delivery
November 13, 2026
The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, through the National Health Authority (NHA), conducted a two-day National Review Meeting in Kolkata on November 5–6, 2026, to assess the implementation of Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) and the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM). Senior officials from States and Union Territories discussed strategies to expand beneficiary coverage, strengthen healthcare delivery, improve financial protection and accelerate digital
The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, through the National Health Authority (NHA), conducted a two-day National Review Meeting in Kolkata on November 5–6, 2026, to assess the implementation of Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) and the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM). Senior officials from States and Union Territories discussed strategies to expand beneficiary coverage, strengthen healthcare delivery, improve financial protection and accelerate digital health adoption.
During the meeting, NHA CEO Dr. Sunil Kumar Barnwal emphasised that the focus of healthcare spending should shift from financing treatment to achieving better health outcomes. He highlighted the role of technology, data analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) in improving programme efficiency, transparency and decision-making. West Bengal Chief Secretary Shri Manoj Kumar Aggarwal also stressed the importance of strengthening primary healthcare for preventive care, early disease detection and reducing the burden on hospitals.
The review examined measures to ensure that all eligible beneficiaries are covered and informed about AB PM-JAY benefits. Discussions also focused on claims processing, fraud prevention, auto-adjudication, and strengthening State Anti-Fraud Units. Officials reviewed the National Anti-Fraud Unit (NAFU) mechanisms and the use of automation to improve claims settlement timelines, operational efficiency and transparency.
Digital health integration was another major focus. The meeting reviewed the Model Digital Health Facility Framework, the National Health Claims Exchange (NHCX) and the use of ABDM-enabled Hospital Information Systems in empanelled hospitals. States were encouraged to improve data quality and establish dedicated analytics and AI teams to support evidence-based healthcare planning.
The meeting also featured demonstrations of AI-based healthcare technologies. These included the Benchmarking Open Data Platform for Health AI (BODH), which evaluates AI models using Indian datasets, and Sandbox 2.0, which demonstrated AI-assisted integration with ABDM. The National Health Authority also showcased an ambient AI-enabled voice scribe that converts doctor-patient conversations into structured clinical records in multiple Indian languages, subject to doctors' review and approval.
Cybersecurity, digital integration, health financing models and convergence of state health schemes were also discussed. States were advised to strengthen authentication controls, appoint dedicated cybersecurity leads and conduct regular security audits to protect digital health infrastructure and patient information.
The two-day meeting comprised 15 sessions and concluded with a shared roadmap focused on stronger Centre-State coordination, wider beneficiary coverage, secure digital health systems, efficient claims processing and improved access to quality healthcare.
Source: https://news.docthub.com/centre-and-states-review-progress-of-ayushman-bharat-schemes-outline-roadmap-for-better-healthcare-delivery-N2703