Kolkata, 6 November 2026: The National Health Authority (NHA), under the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, held a two-day National Review Meeting in Kolkata on 5-6 November 2026. The meeting reviewed progress under Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) and the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), and discussed priorities and strategies for the next phase of implementation.
Senior officials from States and Union Territories attended. The Centre and States assessed programme performance, shared their experiences and identified ways to improve the reach, efficiency and impact of both initiatives. Discussions focused on expanding coverage, strengthening healthcare delivery, ensuring financial protection and speeding up digital health adoption. Particular emphasis was placed on using technology, data analytics, automation and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to improve efficiency, transparency, accountability and health outcomes.
Inaugural session
Dr Sunil Kumar Barnwal, CEO of the NHA, noted West Bengal’s progress since joining the national AB PM-JAY platform, with over four crore Ayushman Cards generated in a short time. He said the next phase must turn gains in coverage into better access to quality care and improved health outcomes.
“Every rupee spent on healthcare must lead to better care for our people,” he said. He added that technology, data and AI can strengthen implementation, improve efficiency and support better decisions, and that the focus must increasingly shift from financing treatment to achieving better health outcomes.
Shri Manoj Kumar Aggarwal, Chief Secretary of West Bengal, stressed the need to strengthen primary healthcare alongside the financial protection offered by AB PM-JAY. He observed that while the scheme gives eligible families financial security at the hospitalisation stage, a strong primary care system is essential for preventive care, early detection and reducing the burden on hospitals. “Healthcare should never push a family into poverty,” he said, calling the scheme a game changer and adding that West Bengal is committed to making its implementation robust, comprehensive and people-centric.
Shri Narayan Swaroop Nigam, Principal Secretary, Department of Health and Family Welfare, West Bengal, said the state joined AB PM-JAY as the 36th State. Since the scheme’s launch in the state on 16 August 2026, 4.2 crore beneficiaries have been enrolled and 2.2 lakh people have received treatment. He described AB PM-JAY and ABDM as complementary pillars of healthcare transformation, combining financial protection with digital empowerment.
Also present were Shri Ashish Madhao Rao, Additional CEO, NHA; Shri Kiran Gopal Vaska, Joint Secretary and Mission Director, ABDM; Ms Varnali Deka, Joint Secretary and Mission Director, ABDM, NHA; and Shri Sharad Dwivedi, CEO, State Health Agency, West Bengal, along with senior NHA officials and representatives of the participating States and UTs.
Day one: coverage, claims, digital facilities and AI
- Coverage and awareness: A key aim was to ensure that all eligible beneficiaries are covered and well informed about their entitlements. The meeting also reviewed ABDM’s progress and ways to increase its adoption across healthcare facilities. Coordinated implementation of the two initiatives was emphasised to give patients seamless access to services and build a more integrated, patient-centric ecosystem.
- Claims and fraud prevention: A dedicated session on the National Anti-Fraud Unit (NAFU) and auto-adjudication examined how automation in claims settlement affects processing time, operating costs and the quality of adjudication. Participants stressed regular fraud reviews, effective monitoring and stronger institutional capacity in State Anti-Fraud Units.
- Digital health facilities: The meeting reviewed the Model Digital Health Facility Framework and Tripura’s implementation experience. It noted that digitising a facility requires more than deploying software: processes must change, workflows must be redesigned and staff must be trained regularly. Such integration should strengthen ABDM-enabled workflows and ensure accurate, reliable data for AB PM-JAY.
- AI in healthcare: Prof. Phaneendra Yalavarthy of TANUH, IISc Bengaluru, presented the Benchmarking Open Data Platform for Health AI (BODH), which evaluates health AI models using Indian datasets. States were encouraged to use it to test AI solutions before adoption and to build BODH-based benchmarking into their procurement of healthcare AI.
- National Health Claims Exchange (NHCX): The meeting reviewed its rollout and underlined the importance of ABDM-enabled Hospital Information Systems at AB PM-JAY empanelled hospitals. Greater integration by hospitals and digital solution providers was seen as essential for faster claims processing and more accurate adjudication.
- Data quality: The Health Analytics and Artificial Intelligence Unit (HAAU) presented its findings. Discussions highlighted the need for stronger institutional capacity in data analytics and evidence-based decision-making, and States committed to set up dedicated analytics and AI teams.
Day two: financing, convergence, integration and cybersecurity
- Health financing models: Dr Darez Ahamed, Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, Tamil Nadu, shared the state’s experience with insurance and assurance models. The discussion stressed matching the coverage model to the risks being addressed, backed by ring-fenced funds and timely payments to hospitals.
- Convergence: The session explored how States could use NHA’s IT platform to run their own health schemes. Its existing benefit packages, empanelled hospital network and fraud-detection tools were discussed as enablers of standardisation, smoother implementation and better monitoring.
- Sandbox 2.0: A demonstration of the platform, now enhanced with agentic AI, showed how AI-assisted tools can simplify and speed up ABDM integration. An ABDM Milestone 1 integration for ABHA creation was completed live. The tool is expected to onboard technology partners and Hospital Information System providers faster and reduce reliance on manual technical support.
- Cybersecurity: Given the sensitivity of the data handled, the meeting examined threats such as phishing, fraudulent URLs and apps, credential leaks and third-party vulnerabilities. States were advised to appoint dedicated cybersecurity leads, strengthen authentication and access controls, and audit their applications and APIs regularly.
- Ambient AI Voice Scribe: NHA demonstrated a tool that converts doctor-patient conversations into structured clinical records in multiple Indian languages. Doctors review and approve the records before they are linked to ABHA. The technology could reduce documentation burden, streamline clinical workflows and speed up the digitisation of facilities.
Way forward
The meeting concluded with a shared roadmap for the next phase of AB PM-JAY and ABDM, reaffirming sustained Centre-State coordination, stronger implementation mechanisms and effective use of technology to turn progress into tangible benefits for citizens. Participants agreed that the next phase must go beyond expanding coverage and digital adoption to ensure timely access to quality care, stronger financial protection and better health outcomes. Reliable data, secure and interoperable digital systems, robust monitoring and responsible use of emerging technologies will remain central.
The meeting comprised 15 sessions covering programme implementation, operational efficiency, digital health infrastructure and emerging technologies. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare reiterated its commitment to working with States to strengthen both initiatives and advance an accessible, affordable, efficient and people-centric healthcare system.