New Delhi: HL July 18, 2026
Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and several other states and Union Territories emerged as top performers at the National Health Authority’s (NHA) two-day National Review Meeting on Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) and the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), where the Centre and states jointly outlined the roadmap for the next phase of India’s digital health transformation.
The review meeting, held on July 17-18 at Madhya Pradesh Bhawan in New Delhi, brought together senior officials from the Union Health Ministry, National Health Authority, State Health Agencies and development partners to assess the progress of both flagship programmes and discuss future reforms.
Top States and UTs Recognised
The NHA presented 15 awards to states and Union Territories for outstanding implementation of AB PM-JAY and ABDM.
Under AB PM-JAY, Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim and Lakshadweep received honours for achieving the highest number of VVS Cards per lakh population in the large state, small state and Union Territory categories, respectively. Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands were recognised for recording the highest number of biometric-authenticated pre-authorisations.
For ABDM, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, Ladakh and Lakshadweep were awarded for achieving registry saturation. Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh were recognised for the highest health record linking per lakh population, while Uttar Pradesh was honoured for exceptional performance in ABHA creation and Scan & Pay adoption.
Focus on Financial Sustainability
The second day of discussions centred on improving the financial sustainability of AB PM-JAY and strengthening public healthcare institutions. Officials reviewed fund utilisation, revised grant guidelines and strategies for timely release and efficient use of financial resources by states.
Kerala showcased its model of integrating state health protection schemes with AB PM-JAY to expand healthcare access, while Tamil Nadu highlighted how claim revenue generated under its health insurance programme has been reinvested in hospital infrastructure, medical equipment, digital systems and human resources.
AI and Digital Health Take Centre Stage
The National Health Authority demonstrated new AI-powered health analytics tools designed to improve beneficiary portability, hospital performance monitoring, district-level accessibility and healthcare utilisation. These digital tools are expected to help states identify service gaps and improve healthcare planning through data-driven decision-making.
Officials also discussed the National Health Claims Exchange (NHCX), which aims to speed up claim settlements and improve cash flow for empanelled hospitals through interoperable digital systems.
Greater Adoption of Digital Health
Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava said that AB PM-JAY and ABDM have become key pillars of India’s healthcare ecosystem and stressed that the next phase should focus on wider adoption and meaningful utilisation of digital health services. She also highlighted the importance of data privacy, cybersecurity and responsible use of health data to maintain public confidence.
National Medical Commission Secretary Dr. Raghav Langer outlined ongoing efforts to integrate medical colleges with ABDM standards, including Hospital Management Information Systems, ABHA-linked clinical records and digital dashboards for objective institutional assessment.
Roadmap for Future Reforms
NHA Chief Executive Officer Dr. Sunil Kumar Barnwal said the review meeting enabled the Centre and states to exchange best practices, identify implementation challenges and develop practical solutions. He noted that increased use of digital technologies, artificial intelligence and evidence-based policymaking would play a crucial role in strengthening healthcare delivery across the country.
The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment from the Centre and states to accelerate implementation of AB PM-JAY and ABDM through collaborative governance, financial sustainability, digital innovation and citizen-centric healthcare reforms.
