The National Health Authority (NHA) organised a 2-Day Chintan Shivir of Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PMJAY) and Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) from 19–20 January, 2026 in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.

Inaugurating the Chintan Shivir, Dr. Mukesh Mahaling, Minister of Health and Family Welfare and IT, Odisha, expressed his delight at Odisha hosting this important national dialogue. He said, “Guided by the visionary leadership of the Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, India continues to advance towards the aim of a ‘Swasth Bharat, Sashakt Bharat’. Ensuring quality healthcare for all remains a top priority for the government.”

In his opening remarks, Dr. Sunil Kumar Barnwal, CEO, NHA, underscored the strength of India’s robust national health IT platform for AB PM-JAY, which enables multiple schemes to be onboarded using common standards while allowing states the flexibility to tailor service delivery to local needs. He remarked, “This two-day Chintan Shivir focuses on two flagship initiatives – AB PM-JAY and ABDM – and serves as a platform for knowledge exchange, sharing best practices, and addressing implementation challenges faced by states at the national level.”

During the Chintan Shivir, NHA exchanged three key Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with Bhashini, the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, and NABH-QCI. These partnerships aim to enhance multilingual access to digital health services, boost AI-driven innovations in the health sector, and strengthen quality and accreditation standards. On the occasion, NHA also launched the Health Benefit Package (HBP) Manual – Part 2 and the Best Practices Compendium of AB PM-JAY.During the Chintan Shivir, NHA exchanged three key Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with Bhashini, the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, and NABH-QCI. These partnerships aim to enhance multilingual access to digital health services, boost AI-driven innovations in the health sector, and strengthen quality and accreditation standards. On the occasion, NHA also launched the Health Benefit Package (HBP) Manual – Part 2 and the Best Practices Compendium of AB PM-JAY.

Senior dignitaries including Smt. Anu Garg, Chief Secretary, Odisha; Shri Sampath Kumar, Principal Secretary, Health & Family Welfare Department, Meghalaya; Smt. Gayatri Rathore, Principal Secretary, Health & Family Welfare Department, Rajasthan; Smt. Aswathy S, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Health & Family Welfare Department, Odisha; Shri Ghiyas Uddin Ahmed, Joint Secretary (Finance Division), NHA; Shri Kiran Gopal Vaska, Joint Secretary (ABDM), NHA; Smt. Jyoti Yadav, Joint Secretary (PMJAY), NHA along with senior officials from the Union Health Ministry, National Health Authority, and State Health Authorities, actively participated in the sessions and shared their perspectives on the roadmap and way forward.(updated on 20th january2026)