The National Health Authority (NHA) has initiated discussions with philanthropic and charitable hospitals across the country to explore their integration into the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) and encourage greater participation in the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY).

During the interaction, NHA officials emphasized the importance of bringing more philanthropic healthcare institutions into India’s rapidly expanding digital health ecosystem. The authority also urged hospitals that are not yet empanelled under AB PM-JAY to consider joining the scheme to improve access to quality, cashless healthcare services for eligible beneficiaries.

The move is aimed at strengthening healthcare accessibility while expanding the reach of digital health services across the country. By integrating with ABDM, hospitals can participate in a nationwide digital framework that enables secure health record sharing, improved care coordination, and enhanced patient experiences through interoperable healthcare systems.

The ABDM has emerged as one of the world’s largest digital health initiatives. According to official data, the mission has already facilitated the creation of hundreds of millions of ABHA IDs and linked a growing number of health records, healthcare professionals, and health facilities to a unified digital ecosystem.

Healthcare experts believe the participation of philanthropic hospitals can significantly enhance service availability, particularly for underserved populations. These institutions often play a crucial role in delivering affordable healthcare services and supporting vulnerable communities.

The NHA also highlighted the benefits of joining AB PM-JAY, the world’s largest government funded health assurance scheme, which provides eligible families with annual health coverage for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization. The program has supported millions of hospital admissions since its launch and continues to expand its provider network across India.

Industry observers note that integrating more hospitals into both ABDM and AB PM-JAY could improve healthcare accessibility, strengthen digital adoption, and enhance continuity of care for patients. It would also support the government’s vision of building a connected, patient centric healthcare system powered by digital infrastructure.

The discussions reflect ongoing efforts by the NHA to deepen collaboration with healthcare providers and accelerate the adoption of digital health technologies across India’s healthcare landscape. Experts believe broader participation from philanthropic institutions will play an important role in achieving universal, accessible, and digitally enabled healthcare services for all citizens.