Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare today hosted a high-level panel discussion on the theme “Scaling AI for Public Health Impact: Public-Private Partnership” as part of the India AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam.
The Government of India is hosting the India AI Impact Summit 2026 from 16th to 20th February 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, marking the first-ever global AI summit to be held in the Global South. The Summit brings together global leaders, policymakers, industry experts, academia, and innovators to deliberate on the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) across sectors, with a special emphasis on inclusive and sustainable development.
As a key participating Ministry, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is playing a significant role in the Summit through a high-level panel discussion, the launch of key initiatives, and the showcasing of AI-driven healthcare solutions at its dedicated exhibition stall.
Delivering the keynote address, Union Health Secretary Smt. Punya Salila Srivastava stated that over the past decade, India’s health system has transitioned from basic digitisation of records and improved data reporting to building a nationally interoperable digital health ecosystem. She recalled that the National Health Policy set the vision of achieving the highest attainable standard of health and well-being for all citizens, which was further operationalised through the National Digital Health Blueprint by promoting open standards, interoperability, privacy-by-design, and the adoption of emerging technologies including Generative AI.
She highlighted that the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) has evolved into a robust digital public infrastructure for health, with over 859 million ABHA accounts linked to more than 878 million health records. With more than 1.80 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs operational across the country, digital platforms are being integrated at the primary care level. E-Sanjeevani, powered by AI-assisted Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSS), has enabled over 449 million teleconsultations through more than 2.2 lakh registered healthcare providers, making it the world’s largest telemedicine initiative in primary healthcare.
Emphasising that digital systems enabled the capture and transmission of information while AI enables its intelligent interpretation and action, she noted that AI has the potential to reduce the burden on the healthcare workforce while strengthening — not replacing — the physician–patient relationship. Citing examples, she referred to MadhuNetrAI for AI-based diabetic retinopathy screening, AI-enabled handheld X-rays and acoustic screening tools such as Cough Against TB (CA-TB) for tuberculosis detection, and AI-integrated surveillance systems for faster epidemic alerts. She also highlighted the establishment of Centres of Excellence for AI in healthcare at AIIMS Delhi, PGIMER Chandigarh, and AIIMS Rishikesh.
Stressing the importance of collaboration, the Union Health Secretary invited industry and State representatives to share their experiences on working with government systems, improving procurement and data frameworks, and identifying AI solutions most useful in field settings. She underscored that under the leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India’s emphasis on digital public infrastructure as a tool for inclusion and equity continues to guide its digital health and AI journey, aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Sunil Kumar Barnwal, CEO, National Health Authority, stated that Artificial Intelligence can significantly enhance efficiency in healthcare delivery and enable faster, data-driven decision-making, particularly in large-scale public health programmes. He emphasised that AI-powered analytics can strengthen beneficiary identification, streamline claims management, detect fraud, and monitor service utilisation, thereby improving transparency, accountability, and overall system performance.
He further underscored the importance of building interoperable digital platforms supported by strong data governance and privacy safeguards to ensure responsible deployment of AI solutions. Highlighting the scale and complexity of national health schemes, he noted that technology-driven innovations are essential to optimise resource allocation, improve targeting of services, and achieve better health outcomes across the country.
The panel brought together eminent representatives from government, industry, multilateral organizations, and the start-up ecosystem to deliberate on scaling AI innovations for public health impact. Discussions focused on leveraging AI for predictive analytics, early disease detection, telemedicine, health data management, and real-time monitoring of public health programmes.
The Ministry is also showcasing its digital health and AI initiatives at the India AI Impact Expo 2026 at Stall No. 1.63 and 1.64, Hall 1, Bharat Mandapam. These include an AI-powered Clinical Decision Support System (CDSS), which enables structured, multilingual symptom capture through a patient assistance form and supports accurate, confident, and data-driven clinical decision-making.
The showcase also features BODH (Benchmarking Open Data Platform for Health AI), developed by IIT Kanpur in collaboration with the National Health Authority, to enable the evaluation of AI models on diverse real-world datasets prior to population-scale deployment, thereby promoting trustworthy and responsible innovation in health AI. The platform will be formally launched tomorrow, on 17th February, by Union Health Minister Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda.
Other initiatives on display include a Voice-to-Text AI model that converts a doctor’s voice into a digital prescription, seamlessly integrated into the existing HMIS workflow, and an AI-powered media surveillance system designed to generate early warning signals for disease outbreaks.
The India AI Impact Summit 2026 is expected to serve as a catalyst for collaborative action and knowledge exchange, enabling cross-sectoral partnerships to harness AI for public good. Through its active engagement in the Summit, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare reiterates its commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technologies to strengthen public health systems and ensure accessible, affordable, and quality healthcare for all.
Google and Alphabet CEO, Mr. Sundar Pichai visited the Bharat GI Coffee Lounge, organized by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), during the India AI Impact Summit 2026. Savoring Malabar Arabica, Mr. Pichai interacted with baristas and experienced the rich flavors of India’s premium GI-tagged coffees.
Delegates from Finland, France, Japan, Nigeria, Botswana, Lithuania, Kazakhstan, Poland and Germany, among many others, also visited the Coffee Experience Centre, expressing keen interest in India’s GI coffee heritage. The Finnish delegate especially appreciated the mellow, smooth flavour profile of Monsooned Malabar Arabica, praising its unique character and distinct processing tradition that sets it apart on the global stage.
Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Shri Piyush Goyal captured the moment on X, “When @SundarPichai drops by for a sip, you know it’s truly worth it! The world is raising a cup to Bharat GI Coffee at #IndiaAIImpactSummit2026. Bharat GI Coffee Lounge, Bharat Mandapam (Hall 14, First Floor)17–20 February.” Link for the tweet -https://x.com/PiyushGoyal/status/2024386674072179011
Union Minister of State, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India Shri. Jitin Prasada, at the Bharat GI Coffee Experience Centre, Hall 14 FF on Day 2 of the India AI Impact Summite visited and celebrated the richness of India’s GI‑registered coffees, highlighting how geographical indications preserve authenticity, empower local communities, and bring global recognition to India’s diverse coffee origins.
At the AI Impact Summit 2026, the Bharat GI Coffees is garnering global attention through a special showcase celebrating India’s distinctive Geographical Indication products. The biggest AI event currently taking place in New Delhi from February 16-20 captured global attention as part of a new national initiative called ‘Bharat GI’.
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has unveiled Bharat GI as a unified national intellectual property brand. The vision is to showcase India’s unique GI products to the globe anchored by the tagline, “A World Exclusive.” DPIIT along with Coffee Board is offering visitors with an immersive experience of the country’s rich, diverse flavors and heritage of Indian coffee at this historic event.
The coffee experience center stationed at Hall No. 14 First Floor, attracted many curious minds to explore and experience various Indian GI registered coffees. Many International delegates have come to savor the Sustainably Shade Grown, Selectively Hand Picked & Naturally Sun-dried Bharat GI Coffees.
A high-level delegation from the Government of Kenya, led by Dr. Gregory Ganda, County Minister for Health, Kisumu County, visited the National Health Authority (NHA), here today for a knowledge exchange on India's digital health infrastructure and health insurance programmes. The delegation brought together senior officials spanning Kenya's health systems architecture, reflecting representation at both the Kenyan national and county (state) level.
The visiting delegation was received and briefed by Dr. Sunil Kumar Barnwal, Chief Executive Officer, National Health Authority, along with senior NHA officials on India's two flagship schemes: Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), the world's largest government-funded health assurance programme and the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), India's national digital health ecosystem built on the Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) approach.
Discussions on PM-JAY examined how technology has been used to build accountability into the system – from Aadhaar-authenticated beneficiary verification and pre-authorization turnaround times to risk profiling of hospitals and claims. NHA's multi-layered anti-fraud framework, deploying machine learning, image analytics and deep learning across a network of over 33,000 empaneled hospitals, drew particular interest. The delegation also engaged with the federal implementation model that accommodates state-level flexibility within a nationally governed framework. Since its launch in 2018, PM-JAY has enabled over 11.6 crore (116 million) hospital admissions worth more than ₹1.67 lakh crore ($18 billion) in treatment for India's most vulnerable populations.
On ABDM, deliberations examined India's use of the DPI approach to build a shared, consent-governed architecture for health data exchange across government programmes, private hospitals, laboratories and frontline workers. Both sides identified the potential of leveraging interoperable infrastructure for drug logistics and utilization tracking as a promising area warranting deeper exploration given its implications for supply chain governance and rational drug use. With over 860 million ABHA health IDs created and 882 million electronic health records linked, ABDM underpins a federated, patient-owned longitudinal health record accessible across care settings.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Sunil Kumar Barnwal, CEO, NHA, said "We are pleased to share our experiences with our Kenyan partners and believe that this South-South collaboration will contribute meaningfully to their efforts in building citizen-centric health systems."
The visit reinforced the spirit of South-South cooperation, with both sides affirming a shared commitment to co-designing solutions with the private sector and lowering cost barriers through shared digital public goods. The interaction will inform a collaborative pathway towards building scalable, technology-driven, and citizen-centric health systems.
About National Health Authority (NHA)
The National Health Authority is the apex body of the Government of India responsible for the implementation of Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) and the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. NHA is committed to advancing Universal Health Coverage through financial protection, digital innovation, and evidence-based policymaking.
Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal, held a high-level meeting with H.E. Mr. Guy Parmelin, President of the Swiss Confederation, in New Delhi on 19 February 2026, during his official visit to India to attend the India AI Impact Summit 2026. The meeting reviewed the next steps for translating TEPA’s market-access gains into business partnerships and investment commitments.
Highlighting India’s growth trajectory, Shri Goyal noted that under Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s leadership, India is now the world’s fourth-largest economy, with an estimated GDP of USD 4.51 trillion in 2026. He underscored India’s scale, sustained reform momentum, a large and expanding consumer market, a deepening industrial base, and continued focus on ease of doing business, digitisation, and infrastructure-led competitiveness, which together provide a stable and scalable platform for long-term partnerships. The Minister encouraged greater Swiss investment in India, particularly in sectors where Switzerland has established niche technological strengths. He also underlined India’s role as a reliable global supplier of affordable, high-quality medicines and vaccines, and called for deeper cooperation in R&D, biotechnology, specialty pharmaceuticals, and advanced therapeutics.
The meeting reaffirmed India and Switzerland’s commitment to expand economic and strategic cooperation under the India–EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA). In the context of the AI Impact Summit, both sides noted the need to balance innovation with responsibility, and recognised TEPA as an enabling framework for technology and innovation collaboration, including precision engineering, health sciences, renewable energy, and R&D.
TEPA is India’s first trade agreement with the EFTA economies (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland), which are characterised by high-income markets, exacting standards, and strong demand for quality products and services. It is also India’s first operational trade arrangement with a European economic bloc, complementing our engagements with the European Union and the United Kingdom. The Agreement is expected to support deeper integration of “Make in India” products into European value chains, with Switzerland as an important gateway market, while expanding opportunities across farmers and fishermen, forest-based communities, workers, women and youth, as well as MSMEs and professionals.
Under TEPA, EFTA has offered improved market access on 92.2% of its tariff lines, covering 99.6% of India’s exports, along with tariff concessions on processed agricultural products. The Agreement is expected to create opportunities across Indian states, including Maharashtra (grapes), Karnataka (coffee), Kerala (spices and seafood), and the North Eastern States (horticulture). India has safeguarded sensitive sectors such as dairy, soya, and coal to protect farmers, MSMEs, and businesses. Sensitivities linked to PLI-supported sectors, including pharma, medical devices, and processed food, have also been addressed. TEPA carries an agreed ambition to facilitate USD 100 billion in investments into India and support the creation of one million direct jobs.
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening regulatory cooperation and institutional engagement to realise TEPA’s full potential. Shri Goyal highlighted the dedicated EFTA Desk at Invest India as a facilitation mechanism for Swiss companies seeking to expand their presence in India.
Both leaders expressed confidence that sustained high-level engagement would advance commercial outcomes and contribute to long-term prosperity for both countries.
The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industries, facilitated the export of 0.5 MT of GI-tagged Salem Sago from Salem, Tamil Nadu to Canada. This marked the first export consignment shipped directly by the GI Authorised User, SAGOSERVE, since the product received its Geographical Indication (GI) tag in March 2023.
Tamil Nadu is the largest producer of Tapioca Sago, also commonly known as Sabudhana. Salem has long been recognised as the hub of the country’s sago and starch industry. Sago is derived from tapioca roots and serves as a staple food across several parts of India.
The GI registration for Salem Sago was obtained in March 2023 by SAGOSERVE under the Government of Tamil Nadu. The Society has 334 registered member-manufacturers and plays a significant role in the marketing of sago and starch produced by its members and also provides essential service facilities such as warehousing, quality improvement measures and initiatives to enhance tapioca cultivation and sago processing standards.
The sago industry in Salem sustains a large number of farmers, including tribal communities engaged in tapioca cultivation. By linking GI-certified production with direct export opportunities, the initiative improved price realisation and strengthened income prospects for farming households dependent on tapioca cultivation.
Traditionally, Salem Sago has been supplied to traders in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and West Bengal and exported to countries such as the USA, UK, Canada, Vietnam and Singapore. However, this shipment marked the first direct export from the GI Authorised User Society itself.
An export-focused programme was also held at the premises of The Salem Starch and Sago Manufacturers’ Service Industrial Cooperative Society Limited (SAGOSERVE) in Salem, Tamil Nadu on 18 February 2026, to explore exports to other key markets.
The initiative aligned with APEDA’s strategy of promoting GI-tagged products, enabling direct market linkages between producer societies and international buyers and expanding value-added agri exports from India, and more such flag-offs are planned in the near term.
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, in association with the National Productivity Council (NPC), organized a ‘Chintan Shivir on Boilers’ at Hyderabad.
The Chintan Shivir was organised with the objective of fostering innovation, reviewing policy implementation and aligning strategies with long-term national goals such as “Vision 2047” through collaborative and forward-looking discussions. The deliberations focused on preparing a roadmap for the boiler industry by engaging key stakeholders across the ecosystem.
The event was attended by Director General, National Productivity Council, Smt. Neeraja Shekhar, Joint Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Shri Jai Prakash Shivahare, and Technical Adviser (Boilers) and Secretary, Central Boilers Board, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Shri Sandeep Sadanand Kumbhar. Representatives of State Governments, boiler manufacturers, boiler users, Third Party Inspecting Authorities (TPIAs) and other stakeholders also participated in the deliberations.
Participants were informed that the Government of India had examined the Boilers Act, 1923, a pre-Constitution legislation, to assess its suitability and relevance in the present context. Considering that the Act deals with the safety of life and property, it was decided to retain the legislation while reviewing and updating its provisions. Accordingly, the Act was reviewed and re-enacted as the Boilers Act, 2025, which has been operational with effect from 1 May 2025. The Chintan Shivir served as a platform to seek feedback on the re-enacted Act and to invite suggestions for further strengthening the regulatory framework governing the boiler industry.
The technical sessions during the Shivir covered the provisions of the Boilers Act, 2025 and the rules and regulations framed thereunder, Ease of Doing Business, and the roles and responsibilities of Third-Party Inspecting Authorities and Competent Persons. Industry experts also conducted dedicated sessions on Remnant Life Assessment of ageing boilers, advanced technologies in boiler manufacturing and challenges faced during the erection of supercritical boilers.
The programme concluded with a panel discussion followed by an open house interaction, wherein stakeholders were invited to provide suggestions for rationalising rules and regulations, reducing compliance burden and enhancing ease of doing business while ensuring uncompromised safety standards in the boiler sector.
In a landmark step towards strengthening Indo-French cooperation in healthcare and emerging technologies, Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Shri J P Nadda, and H.E. Mr. Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic, today inaugurated the Indo French Centre for AI in Health (IF-CAIH) at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi.
The IF-CAIH is a pioneering initiative aimed at advancing AI-driven research, medical education and clinical innovation to address complex healthcare challenges. It marks a significant milestone in India–France collaboration in digital health and reinforces Bharat’s vision of becoming a global leader in equitable and technology-enabled healthcare solutions.
The launch coincided with the high-level academic and scientific meetings – Rencontres Universitaires Et Scientifiques De Haut Niveau (RUSH) – being held on February 18-19, 2026, at AIIMS, New Delhi, coordinated by the French Embassy. A dedicated session titled “Indo-French Forum: AI in Brain Health and Global Healthcare” brought together leading scientists, clinicians, policymakers, and academic leaders from both countries.
The IF-CAIH has been established pursuant to a Joint Memorandum of Understanding signed between AIIMS New Delhi, Sorbonne University and Paris Brain Institute. The initiative also draws academic collaboration from Indian Institute of Technology Delhi and leading French institutions, promoting interdisciplinary research in artificial intelligence, brain health and global healthcare systems.
The initiative builds upon ongoing institutional cooperation between India and France in priority areas such as Digital Health, Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), Human Resources for Health and the responsible use of health data. Collaborative efforts between research bodies and digital health institutions of both countries aim to enhance scientific discovery, strengthen evidence-based policymaking and promote capacity building and mobility partnerships.
The Indo-French Forum during RUSH 2026 aims to promote an integrated approach to global mental health challenges and enrich research ecosystems through cross-mobility of students, faculty, and researchers across the Indo-Pacific region.
As part of the RUSH 2026 programme, a special 30-minute conversation titled “RUSH – Conversation on Artificial Intelligence” was held between H.E. Mr. Emmanuel Macron and two young Indian innovators, Ms. Priyanka Das Rajkakati and Mr. Manan Suri. The interaction, moderated by Ms. Clara Chappaz, French Ambassador for AI and Digital, highlighted the importance of youth-led innovation, cross-border collaboration, and the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence in shaping inclusive and sustainable global futures.
The programme also featured a special segment on “Major Scientific and Academic Cooperation Highlights between France and India” at the Jawaharlal Auditorium, moderated by Prof. Vijay Raghavan and Dr. Thierry Coulhon, Chairmen of RUSH. The session showcased key milestones and emerging avenues of collaboration in higher education, research, and innovation between the two countries, reflecting the depth and dynamism of the Indo-French knowledge partnership.
In his address, President Macron underscored the need for India and France to build sovereign AI capacity and talent, ensuring that AI development serves humanity without overdependence on a few global powers. He highlighted the transformative potential of ethical AI adoption across sectors, particularly in healthcare, to enhance productivity and accelerate scientific discovery. Emphasizing responsible governance, he called for safeguards to protect children, greater transparency in algorithms to address bias and democratic risks and the preservation of linguistic diversity in AI systems – an area where India and France share a common vision.
The President stated, “India and France are committed to developing the computing capacity and talent necessary to build our own trusted AI systems, as we cannot rely solely on technologies created and managed elsewhere.” He added, “Artificial Intelligence must serve humanity – with strong protections for children, transparency in algorithms to address bias, and a firm commitment to preserving linguistic and cultural diversity.”
Subsequently, H.E. Mr. Emmanuel Macron proceeded to inaugurate the International Centre for Artificial Intelligence in Global Health with a ceremonial walk, interacting with students en route and encouraging young researchers to pursue innovation-driven solutions in healthcare. The Hon’ble Union Health Minister, Shri J. P. Nadda was present throughout the programme and joined the inauguration ceremony at the IF-CAIH, reaffirming India’s commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation in AI-enabled global health.
The Government of India reiterates its commitment to deepening healthcare cooperation with France, leveraging innovation, shared democratic values, and collective expertise to build resilient health systems and deliver better health outcomes for people in India and across the globe.
Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda, today launched two pioneering digital health initiatives — SAHI (Strategy for Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare for India) and BODH (Benchmarking Open Data Platform for Health AI) — during the India AI Impact Summit 2026. The launch marks a significant milestone in advancing safe, ethical, and evidence-based deployment of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in India’s healthcare ecosystem.
Describing the Summit as both timely and necessary, Shri Nadda emphasized that AI does not operate in isolation, but thrives on strong digital infrastructure and high-quality data. Recognizing this early, India began laying its digital foundations nearly a decade ago. In 2015, under the leadership of the Hon’ble Prime Minister, the Government launched the Digital India programme to transform India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy.
The Minister noted that the health sector aligned itself decisively with this national vision. The National Health Policy, 2017 envisaged the creation of a comprehensive digital health ecosystem that would be interoperable, inclusive, and scalable. Building on this vision, the Government launched the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) in 2020 to establish a robust digital public architecture for healthcare.
Highlighting the progress achieved, Shri Nadda stated that sustained efforts have led to the creation of a strong digital public infrastructure in health. Interoperable systems have been enabled across platforms, and large-scale, consent-based health data frameworks are being developed to empower citizens while ensuring data privacy and security.
In this context, the Minister referred to the launch of SAHI, the Strategy for Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare for India, describing it as not merely a technology strategy but a governance framework, policy compass, and national roadmap for the responsible use of AI in healthcare. He stated that SAHI will guide India in leveraging AI in a manner that is ethical, transparent, accountable, and people-centric.
Shri Nadda also emphasized that SAHI provides a structured framework for collaboration, ensuring that innovation flourishes while public interest remains paramount.
The Minister also underlined the transformative potential of AI in pharmaceuticals and life sciences. AI-driven tools can accelerate drug discovery, shorten research timelines, enhance clinical trial precision, and make research processes more cost-effective, thereby strengthening affordable healthcare delivery.
He further highlighted the critical role of academic institutions in developing a future-ready healthcare AI workforce. The collaboration between Government and academia has led to the development of BODH — the Benchmarking Open Data Platform for Health AI — which provides a structured mechanism for testing and validating AI solutions before deployment at scale.
Shri Nadda reiterated that AI solutions must be rigorously evaluated for performance, reliability, and real-world readiness. Together, SAHI and BODH represent India’s commitment to building a trustworthy, inclusive, and globally competitive health AI ecosystem grounded in innovation, responsibility, and public trust.
Addressing the gathering, Union Health Secretary, Punya Salila Srivastava, stated that under the visionary leadership of the Hon’ble Prime Minister, India has made tremendous strides in leveraging technology to make governance more inclusive, transparent, and efficient.
She emphasized that the launch of SAHI and BODH marks an important step in advancing the application of AI in healthcare. SAHI, she said, represents a long-term policy commitment of the Government and provides a common framework for the Union and State Governments, as well as private partners, to guide AI evaluation, adoption, and integration within the healthcare ecosystem.
Smt. Srivastava further highlighted that BODH will play a critical role in ensuring that AI tools used by clinicians are safe, reliable, and validated against real-world parameters before deployment. She stressed that trust, safety, and accountability must remain central to India’s health AI journey.
Dr. Catharina Boehme, Officer-in-Charge, World Health Organization South-East Asia Regional Office, also addressed the Summit and commended India’s leadership in digital health innovation. She noted that India is among the first countries to adopt a national AI strategy for health, setting an important global benchmark.
Dr. Boehme stated that the strategy has been designed to strengthen healthcare delivery, improve decision-making, and extend the reach of services to underserved populations. She emphasized that the approach reflects a simple but powerful principle — innovation must strengthen systems, expand access, and build trust.
Highlighting the importance of collaboration, she observed that India’s whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach ensures that SAHI reflects the realities of implementation on the ground, thereby enhancing its effectiveness and sustainability.
SAHI has been conceptualized as a comprehensive framework to promote secure, interoperable, and trustworthy AI solutions in the health sector. The initiative will facilitate collaboration among healthcare institutions, technology developers, researchers, and policymakers to ensure that AI tools meet rigorous standards of safety, efficacy, and ethical compliance prior to large-scale adoption.
The platform will also serve as a knowledge-sharing and governance hub, promoting best practices in health AI development and implementation, with strong safeguards for patient data protection and algorithmic accountability.
BODH (Benchmarking Open Data Platform for Health AI), developed by the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur in collaboration with the National Health Authority, will enable systematic evaluation of AI models using diverse, anonymized real-world health datasets.
The platform is designed to assess performance, robustness, bias, and generalizability of AI systems before their deployment at population scale. By institutionalizing benchmarking standards, BODH aims to ensure that AI solutions are reliable, clinically relevant, and aligned with national public health priorities.
The launch of SAHI and BODH at the AI India Summit reflects India’s forward-looking vision of integrating digital innovation with public health priorities. These initiatives will foster responsible innovation while reinforcing trust in AI-enabled healthcare solutions.
The event witnessed the participation of senior officials from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, representatives from premier academic institutions, healthcare professionals, AI innovators, and industry stakeholders.
Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Smt. Anupriya Patel addressed the 2nd Convocation Ceremony of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Mangalagiri, today, in the presence of Shri Nara Lokesh, Minister for Information Technology, Electronics, Communications, and Human Resources, Andhra Pradesh.
Addressing the gathering, Smt. Patel congratulated the graduating students on reaching a significant milestone in their academic and professional journey. She described the occasion as a defining moment, marking the completion of formal education while reaffirming that learning in the medical profession must continue throughout life. “Medicine is a constantly evolving field. This convocation does not mark the end of learning, but the beginning of a lifelong journey of continuous growth, discovery, and service to humanity,” she added.
Emphasizing the social responsibility of doctors, Smt. Patel stated, “When you enter this noble profession, you carry not only your personal ambitions, but also the hopes and aspirations of millions of citizens. Society places immense trust in doctors, and that trust must be honoured with empathy, compassion, ethical conduct, and excellence.”
She urged the graduates to always place patients at the centre of their professional decisions, irrespective of where they serve, and to remain sensitive to the needs of the most vulnerable sections of society.
Highlighting the transformation underway in India’s healthcare sector, Smt. Patel said, “India’s healthcare story is being redefined. Under the visionary leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, universal health coverage is no longer a distant goal but an achievable reality. Healthcare in India is transitioning from being a privilege to becoming a fundamental right.”
Smt. Patel noted that government expenditure on healthcare has witnessed a consistent rise since 2014, with a 9% increase in the latest Union Budget. She also emphasized that the National Health Policy 2017 mandates increasing public health spending to 2.5% of GDP, which has resulted in strengthened public healthcare systems and a sustained reduction in out-of-pocket expenditure for citizens.
Smt. Patel further underlined that “the government has adopted a holistic approach, investing more in public health, reducing the financial burden on families, and expanding infrastructure and human resources, to ensure that quality healthcare reaches every citizen.”
Smt. Patel highlighted several flagship initiatives including Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana, Amrit Pharmacies, the National Dialysis Programme, and other patient-centric schemes aimed at ensuring affordability and access.
Referring to Ayushman Bharat- Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), she said, “this world’s largest health assurance scheme is providing free treatment of up to ₹5 lakh per family annually to nearly 62 crore beneficiaries, triggering a silent social revolution by eliminating financial barriers to healthcare for the poor and vulnerable.” She emphasized that PM-JAY has enabled early diagnosis and timely treatment, significantly improving health outcomes and preventing catastrophic health expenditure.
On healthcare infrastructure and medical education, she stated, “India has witnessed an unprecedented expansion in medical education and tertiary healthcare. The number of medical colleges has increased from 387 in 2014 to 818 today, undergraduate and postgraduate medical seats have been expanded, and AIIMS institutions have grown from 7 to 22, ensuring that talented youth from all backgrounds can pursue their dreams of becoming doctors.”
She added that more than 1.80 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs now serve as the foundation of India’s primary healthcare system, delivering 12 essential services at the grassroots level.
Highlighting India’s leadership in integrative healthcare, Smt. Patel stated, “By converging modern medicine with traditional systems, India is pioneering an integrative healthcare model that enhances outcomes, lowers costs, and accelerates progress towards universal health coverage.”
Smt. Patel informed that dedicated integrative healthcare and AYUSH units are now operational or being established across AIIMS institutions, including AIIMS Mangalagiri.
Speaking on the role of emerging technologies, Smt. Patel underscored the growing importance of artificial intelligence in healthcare delivery. Referring to India’s hosting of the Global South Summit on Artificial Intelligence, she remarked, “Artificial intelligence is a powerful enabler that can transform disease surveillance, diagnosis, treatment, and healthcare delivery. It is an assistive force that strengthens doctors, not replaces them.”
She highlighted the successful use of AI-powered tools in India’s tuberculosis elimination programme, including handheld X-ray devices, cough-based diagnostic solutions, predictive analytics, genomic surveillance, and real-time disease outbreak monitoring.
“Our experience demonstrates that technology, when aligned with public purpose, can dramatically expand access, improve efficiency, and save lives,” she added.
Addressing the challenges of medical practice, Smt. Patel urged young doctors to care for their own physical and mental well-being, stressing that healthy caregivers are essential for delivering quality healthcare.
In her concluding remarks, she congratulated AIIMS Mangalagiri for organizing the convocation ceremony and commended the institute for launching an early-morning antenatal care initiative for pregnant women. She extended her best wishes to the graduating students, expressing confidence that they would uphold the highest ethical standards, pursue lifelong learning, and contribute meaningfully to nation-building.
Addressing graduating healthcare professionals, Shri Nara Lokesh highlighted the remarkable transformation of AIIMS Mangalagiri, from a modest facility to a 650-bed super-specialty institution offering advanced services including organ transplantation, robotic surgery, oncology, and cardiac care, with over 45 lakh diagnostic services delivered, symbolizing hope and healing for millions. Emphasizing that true growth lies beyond infrastructure, the speaker underscored trust, compassion, ethical integrity, and lifelong learning as the core pillars of medical practice. Paying tribute to the selfless service of doctors during the COVID-19 pandemic, the address reaffirmed that while technology and AI will continue to advance healthcare, empathy, humility, and the healing power of human touch remain irreplaceable. Graduates were urged to serve with dedication, uphold ethical values, embrace continuous learning, reach underserved communities, and practice medicine with dignity, discipline, and devotion.
During the convocation ceremony, degrees were conferred upon 49 MBBS graduates, 5 MD/ MS Post-Graduate students and 4 Post-Doctoral Certificate Course (PDCC) Students. A brief progress on the recent achievements of the institute was also released on the occasion.
Maj. Gen. (Dr.) Tapan Kumar Saha, President, AIIMS Mangalagiri, and Dr. Ahanthem Santa Singh, Executive Director, AIIMS Mangalagiri and senior officials of the Union Health Ministry and Andhra Pradesh government were present in the event.
Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Smt. Anupriya Patel today participated in a session on the theme “Innovation to Impact: AI as a Public Health Game-Changer” during the India AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam. The session spotlighted the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence in advancing public health outcomes and strengthening India’s healthcare delivery systems.
Addressing policymakers, healthcare leaders, technology experts, researchers, and industry stakeholders while delivering the keynote address, Smt. Anupriya Patel, Hon’ble Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, highlighted that “AI for India, as our Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi envisions, is not merely Artificial Intelligence but All-Inclusive Intelligence.” She emphasized that when India speaks of AI in healthcare, it is not limited to sophisticated algorithms or the promise of precision alone, but is measured by the extent to which technology touches lives and addresses health inequities across the country.
She stated that as India advances towards the vision of a Viksit Bharat by 2047, health forms one of the most critical pillars of development. India’s vast and diverse population, the rural–urban divide, and the dual burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases present unique challenges. In such a context, she underscored, technology—particularly AI—becomes an indispensable enabler.
She also noted that AI has been integrated across the entire continuum of healthcare—from disease surveillance and prevention to diagnosis and treatment. She highlighted the Media Disease Surveillance System, an AI-enabled tool that monitors disease trends in as many as 13 languages, generates real-time alerts, and strengthens outbreak preparedness. This system, she said, showcases the power of AI in augmenting India’s disease control efforts and enhancing surveillance capacity.
Under the One Health Mission, she further informed that the Indian Council of Medical Research has launched AI-based tools for genomic surveillance, capable of predicting potential zoonotic outbreaks even before transmission from animals to humans occurs. Such predictive capabilities, she emphasized, represent a paradigm shift in preventive public health.
She also highlighted the deployment of AI-enabled handheld X-ray machines and Computer-Aided Detection tools for tuberculosis (CA-TB), which have brought advanced diagnostics closer to communities. These innovations have contributed to approximately 16 percent additional case detection in TB. Furthermore, AI-based tools predicting adverse TB treatment outcomes have helped achieve a 27 percent decline in negative treatment results, strengthening India’s fight against tuberculosis.
Emphasizing scalability and affordability, Smt. Patel stated that in a large population, resource-constrained setting like India, solutions must be scalable, frugal, and capable of addressing systemic gaps. She noted that the Government has actively worked towards building a strong AI ecosystem in healthcare, including the establishment of three Centres of Excellence for AI at AIIMS Delhi, PGIMER Chandigarh, and AIIMS Rishikesh to integrate world-class AI expertise into public healthcare delivery.
Clarifying the role of technology, she asserted that AI is here to augment and assist, not to replace clinicians. By reducing the burden of routine and high-intensity tasks, AI enables doctors to devote more time to complex cases and critical clinical decision-making.
“Medicine is not only a science; it is also an art,” she remarked. Healthcare thrives not merely on algorithms but on human touch, empathy, compassion, and communication—qualities that cannot be replicated by machines and will always remain the domain of clinicians.
Concluding her address, the Minister stressed that future-ready healthcare professionals must be AI-literate. In this regard, she noted that the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences has recently launched an online training programme on AI in healthcare to equip doctors across the country with essential digital competencies, ensuring that India’s medical workforce remains prepared for a technology-driven future.
Addressing the summit, Prof. V. K. Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog, emphasized that Artificial Intelligence presents a strategic opportunity to transform India’s healthcare landscape and accelerate progress towards universal health coverage. He noted that given India’s scale, diversity, and dual burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases, technology-driven, evidence-based interventions are essential to strengthen service delivery and improve health outcomes.
He highlighted that AI can significantly enhance primary healthcare, enable early diagnosis, strengthen disease surveillance, and support data-driven policy formulation. Integrating AI with India’s growing digital public health infrastructure, he stated, will ensure interoperability, real-time analytics, and more efficient resource allocation across the health system.
Prof. Paul further underscored the importance of robust regulatory frameworks, ethical safeguards, and continuous validation to maintain safety and public trust. He called for sustained collaboration between government, academia, and industry to develop scalable, affordable, and indigenous AI solutions capable of delivering measurable impact at population scale.
Speaking at the Occasion, Shri Roy Jakobs, Chief Executive Officer of Royal Philips, stated that AI will have its greatest impact in the field of healthcare. He observed that health systems across the globe are under immense pressure due to rising demand, workforce shortages, and increasing complexity of care, making the integration of AI not just an opportunity but a necessity.
He emphasized that AI alone cannot transform healthcare; it must be supported by robust data governance, seamless data handling, and strong clinical integration. “Technology must align with clinical needs and workflows,” he noted, underlining that meaningful AI deployment requires quality data, interoperability, and clearly defined use cases.
He further stressed that healthcare runs on trust, and therefore AI systems must be transparent, explainable, and continuously validated to maintain clinical confidence and patient safety.
Commending India’s digital health initiatives, he noted that programmes such as Ayushman Bharat Yojana are laying the groundwork for interoperable data systems and continuity of care at population scale—precisely the kind of foundation AI requires to deliver meaningful and sustainable impact.
He also remarked that solutions built in India are increasingly being deployed globally, demonstrating that technologies designed for scale, diversity, and complexity tend to be resilient and adaptable worldwide. Reaffirming Royal Philips’ commitment to collaborative innovation, Shri Jakobs expressed confidence that partnerships between government and industry will accelerate AI-driven transformation and improve health outcomes globally.
The overall discussion highlighted that Artificial Intelligence is poised to become a transformative force in public health, provided it is deployed responsibly, ethically, and at scale. Speakers collectively emphasized that AI must move beyond pilot projects to system-level integration, supported by interoperable digital infrastructure, quality data, strong regulatory frameworks, and public-private collaboration. The deliberations underscored that while AI can significantly enhance disease surveillance, diagnostics, clinical decision-making, and health system efficiency, it is ultimately a tool to augment—not replace—clinicians. The session concluded with a shared commitment to harness AI as an inclusive, scalable, and patient-centric solution to address India’s complex healthcare challenges and to strengthen global health resilience.