Universal health coverage
Digital health
Digital health is transforming the way healthcare is delivered, making it more accessible, efficient and patient-centered.
By leveraging technology such as electronic health records, telemedicine, health apps and AI-driven analytics, digital health offers the potential to bridge longstanding gaps in access and quality — especially in a country as vast and diverse as India.
India’s digital health transformation
As the founding CEO of the National Health Authority, I had the opportunity to launch the National Digital Health Mission (NDHM) in 2020, which was later renamed the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM). This flagship initiative laid the foundation for a comprehensive digital health ecosystem in India.
The mission was built on the principles of universality, interoperability, privacy and inclusiveness. ABDM enables every citizen to create a unique Health ID, which links to their longitudinal electronic health records. By facilitating seamless exchange of health data between patients, providers and insurers—with full patient consent—the mission has empowered people and improved service delivery.
Key features of ABDM include:
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- Unique Health ID for every individual, portable across the country
- Creation of a federated, consent-based health information exchange
- Digital registries of healthcare professionals and health facilities
- Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) app for individuals to manage their health records
- Unified Health Interface (UHI) to enable open, interoperable digital health services
- Sandbox environment to encourage innovation by private sector startups
Why digital health matters
Digital tools can transform the experience of healthcare—not just for providers and policymakers, but most importantly for patients. In resource- constrained settings, digital health helps improve outcomes through:
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- Improved data for planning, monitoring and research
- Better coordination of care across levels of the health system
- Enhanced access through telemedicine and e-pharmacies
- Personalized and preventive care using AI and analytics
- Greater transparency and reduced fraud through e-claims and audits
Key Resources
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- Health Data Governance Principles – Transform Health
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- ITU-WHO Digital Health Platform Guide