**Executive Summary**
The National Health Authority (NHA) concluded a two-day Chintan Shivir in Pune on April 18, 2026, aimed at strengthening the implementation of AB PM-JAY and ABDM. The forum focused on digital health innovation, clinical governance, and the mandatory integration of hospital systems with digital platforms. Key outcomes included the announcement of forthcoming 2024–25 state rankings and the recognition of various States/UTs for excellence in healthcare delivery.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **State Best Practices and Clinical Governance**
* Karnataka presented an online referral system for PM-JAY beneficiaries to optimize resource utilization.
* Gujarat implemented digital gatekeeping, including Online Tumor Board Certification, to reduce unnecessary procedures and improve cost efficiency.
* Jharkhand utilized PM-JAY incentives to upgrade infrastructure and specialist services at Sadar Hospital, Ranchi.
* **Digital Infrastructure and Integration**
* A live demonstration of NHCX-enabled Hospital Management Information Systems (HMIS) showcased streamlined claims processing and faster transactions.
* The Health Data Analytics and AI Unit encouraged using ABHA-linked data to analyze OPD/IPD trends and design targeted interventions.
* Discussions focused on converging multiple schemes, such as PM RAHAT, onto the unified PM-JAY IT platform.
* **Regulatory Requirements and Benchmarking**
* The National Medical Commission (NMC) has made the integration of hospital HMIS with ABDM platforms a mandatory requirement.
* The World Bank briefed states on the ABDM State Adoption Index, which benchmarks performance in core registries, budget utilization, and health record linkage.
* State performance for 2024–25 will be assessed based on their transition from infrastructure creation to sustained digital usage.
* **Awards and Recognition**
* 18 awards were conferred under PM-JAY for categories such as bio-authentication (Gujarat, Mizoram, Ladakh) and processing suspicious claims (Chhattisgarh, Tripura, J&K).
* 5 awards were presented under ABDM for digital health adoption, including Scan & Share (Ladakh) and private healthcare registrations (Rajasthan).
**Impact Analysis**
**State and UT Governments**
**Impact**
States are now being benchmarked through the ABDM State Adoption Index across key domains like ABHA and Health Facility Registry (HFR). They are moving from a phase of infrastructure building to one of performance-based digital usage.
**Action Required**
States must transition from creating infrastructure to ensuring sustained digital usage and leverage NHA’s digital infrastructure to create a unified healthcare ecosystem.
**Medical College-Associated Hospitals**
**Impact**
Digital adoption has become a core component of regulatory evaluation. Service delivery assessments will now be based specifically on ABHA-linked patient data to enhance transparency.
**Action Required**
These institutions must comply with the mandatory requirement to integrate their hospital HMIS with ABDM platforms.
**National Medical Commission (NMC)**
**Impact**
The commission has shifted its evaluation paradigm to include digital adoption as an integral part of regulatory assessment for hospitals.
**Action Required**
The NMC must monitor the mandatory integration of HMIS with ABDM and assess hospital performance based on linked digital data.
Key Entities Referenced
Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY): India's flagship public health insurance scheme providing financial protection for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization.
Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM): An initiative to develop the digital backbone of India’s healthcare system through interoperable health records, registries, and digital identity (ABHA).
National Health Authority (NHA): The apex body responsible for implementing and managing both AB PM-JAY and the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission.
National Medical Commission (NMC): The regulatory body that has mandated the integration of hospital management systems with ABDM platforms for evaluation and accountability.
ABDM State Adoption Index: A benchmarking framework developed with the World Bank to track and promote digital health adoption, budget utilization, and registry usage across States and UTs.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
NHA Concludes Two-Day Chintan Shivir on AB
PM-JAY and ABDM in Pune; Focus on
Innovation, Digital Health and Cooperative
Governance
States Showcase Best Practices in Digital Health and Clinical
Governance at NHA Chintan Shivir
Data-Driven Innovations and ABDM Integration Take Centre
Stage on Day 2 of NHA Chintan Shivir
NHA Honours States and UTs for Excellence in AB PM-JAY
and ABDM Implementation
Posted On: 18 APR 2026 6:04PM by PIB Delhi
The National Health Authority (NHA) successfully concluded the two-day Chintan Shivir on Ayushman
Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) and Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM)
in Pune, bringing together senior officials from the Centre and States/UTs to deliberate on strengthening
healthcare delivery through innovation, technology, and collaborative governance.
Building upon the discussions of Day 1, the second day commenced with a presentation on Karnataka’s
online referral system for PM-JAY beneficiaries. The initiative has enabled optimal resource utilisation
and strengthened reliance on public healthcare institutions through data-driven decision-making.A presentation by Shri Rajeev Topno, Additional Chief Secretary, Government of Gujarat, highlighted the
State’s experience in strengthening clinical governance under AB PM-JAY. Gujarat has implemented
robust gatekeeping mechanisms, including digital verification systems such as Online Tumor Board
Certification, alongside data-driven monitoring. These measures have led to improved clinical
appropriateness, reduced unnecessary procedures, and significant cost efficiencies.
Jharkhand showcased a best practice from Sadar Hospital, Ranchi, demonstrating effective utilisation of
PM-JAY incentives to upgrade infrastructure and onboard specialist services. This has enhanced service
delivery capacity and reinforced the hospital’s role as a dependable public health institution.
A live demonstration of an NHCX-enabled Hospital Management Information System (HMIS) illustrated
how interoperable and standardised digital systems can streamline claims processing, reduce
fragmentation, and enable faster, more efficient transactions among stakeholders.
States were also briefed by the World Bank team on the ABDM State Adoption Index—a standardised,
data-driven framework designed to benchmark performance across key domains such as core registries,
adoption and usage, and budget utilisation. By tracking indicators including ABHA, Health Facility
Registry (HFR), Health Professional Registry (HPR), Scan & Share, and health record linkage, the Index
enables identification of performance gaps, supports targeted interventions, and promotes cross-learning.
With the 2024–25 rankings forthcoming, States were encouraged to transition from infrastructure creation
to sustained digital usage.
Highlighting a significant regulatory advancement, Dr. Raghav Langer, Secretary, National Medical
Commission (NMC), informed that integration of hospital HMIS with ABDM platforms will now be a
mandatory requirement. Service delivery in medical college-associated hospitals will be assessed based on
ABHA-linked patient data, marking a paradigm shift where digital adoption becomes integral to
regulatory evaluation, thereby enhancing transparency and accountability.The Health Data Analytics and AI Unit presented insights on leveraging advanced analytics to address
implementation challenges under PM-JAY. States were encouraged to utilise ABHA-linked data to analyse
OPD and IPD trends and design targeted interventions. A dedicated session on new features of the
NextGen platform also addressed operational challenges and facilitated smoother adoption of enhanced
digital functionalities.
Deliberations on convergence emphasised integration of multiple schemes onto the PM-JAY IT platform,
including an overview of PM RAHAT. States were encouraged to leverage the NHA’s digital infrastructure
to create a unified, citizen-centric healthcare ecosystem.
The Chintan Shivir also recognised excellence among States and Union Territories through awards under
AB PM-JAY and ABDM.
Under AB PM-JAY, a total of 18 awards were conferred across various performance parameters to
recognise excellence among States and Union Territories. Uttarakhand (Large State), Goa (Small State),
and Jammu & Kashmir (UT) were awarded for best performance in Pre-authorisation Approval TAT
(Overall), while Odisha (Large State), Nagaland (Small State), and Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman &
Diu (UT) were recognised for Pre-authorisation Approval TAT under Portability. Gujarat (Large State),
Mizoram (Small State), and Ladakh (UT) received awards for achieving the highest percentage of bio-
authentication. Kerala (Large State), Meghalaya (Small State), and Puducherry (UT) were honoured for
completion of mandatory courses. Chhattisgarh (Large State), Tripura (Small State), and Jammu &
Kashmir (UT) were recognised for timely processing of suspicious claims (TAT). Additionally, Jharkhand,
Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh were jointly awarded for best performance among large States in high
trigger efficacy.Under ABDM, five awards were presented to recognise achievements in digital health adoption. Ladakh
was awarded for maximum Scan & Share and health record linkages in model facilities, while Uttar
Pradesh was recognised for having the highest number of PM-JAY empanelled hospitals with ABDM-
enabled HMIS and record linkages. AIIMS Bhopal received the award for best government facility under
the Scan and Pay category. Rajasthan was honoured for maximum registration of private healthcare
professionals and facilities, and Tripura was recognised as the top-performing State in IEC and capacity-
building activities.
In his concluding remarks, Dr. Sunil Kumar Barnwal, CEO, NHA, stated that the Chintan Shivir has
emerged as a vital platform for collective deliberation, enabling the Centre and States to learn from each
other and chart the way forward. He emphasised that a one-size-fits-all approach is not feasible,particularly for ABDM implementation, given varying levels of digital maturity across States. He
encouraged States to continue sharing innovations and best practices to strengthen the healthcare
ecosystem collectively.
The Shivir concluded with a post-event discussion on the System Integrator Model, organised in
collaboration with the Government of Maharashtra’s IT Department and ABDM-enabled HMIS
stakeholders. The session highlighted pathways for scalable, standardised digital health integration across
the country.
The deliberations reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to strengthening healthcare delivery through
technology, data-driven governance, and cooperative federalism, ensuring accessible, affordable, and
quality healthcare for all citizens.
*****
SR
HFW- NHA Concludes Two-Day Chintan Shivir in Pune/18th April 2026/2
(Release ID: 2253329) Visitor Counter : 214
Read this release in: Urdu , Marathi , ही