The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Monday launched a series of digital health initiatives, including Aarogya Setu 2.0, aimed at strengthening India’s Digital Public Infrastructure for Health and expanding access to interoperable, citizen-centric healthcare services.
Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda unveiled the initiatives, which include the Ayushman App, Ayushman Sarathi WhatsApp Chatbot, National Health Claims Exchange (NHCX), Insurance Plan FHIR Object Creator, e-Sushrut Clinic, Unified Health Interface (UHI), Drug Registry, Common LOINC Codes for India (CLCI) and Bharat Health Terminology Service (BHTS). Developed under the aegis of the National Health Authority (NHA) and the National Resource Centre for EHR Standards (NRCeS), the initiatives aim to improve accessibility, efficiency and continuity of care through seamless exchange of health information across the healthcare ecosystem.
Addressing the launch, Nadda described the initiatives as another significant milestone in India’s digital health journey. He said the platforms would bring previously fragmented health services onto a single integrated system, making healthcare more accessible and citizen-centric.
Highlighting the progress made under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), the minister said more than 90 crore Ayushman Bharat Health Accounts (ABHA) have been created, while over 100 crore digital health records have been linked, making India’s digital health ecosystem one of the largest in the world.
The revamped Aarogya Setu 2.0 application is designed to serve people across different age groups by providing seamless access to a wide range of health services, including services for mothers and children, youth, senior citizens and people living with chronic illnesses. The minister also highlighted the growing role of artificial intelligence in healthcare, referring to AI-enabled initiatives such as SAHI and BODHI that are supporting healthcare delivery.
Calling upon States and Union Territories to actively implement the new initiatives, Nadda said the success of the country’s digital health ecosystem depends on effective adoption at the state level, while the Union Government will continue to provide policy support and digital infrastructure.
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for AYUSH Prataprao Jadhav said the digital initiatives would strengthen the integration of AYUSH with modern healthcare and improve access to traditional systems of medicine through digital platforms. He said the initiative would also promote innovation and support a more holistic healthcare framework.
Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Anupriya Patel said digital health records would enable women to access their medical information more easily and ensure continuity of care. She added that the initiatives would also reduce the administrative workload of frontline health workers, including ASHA and Anganwadi workers.
According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the newly launched digital platforms are expected to strengthen interoperability across the healthcare ecosystem, improve patient experience, simplify health insurance claims, enhance digital health records management and support the creation of a connected, inclusive and technology-driven healthcare system aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
