National AI policy for healthcare in the works, says NHA CEO

Pune: National Health Authority (NHA) CEO Dr Sunil Kumar Barnwal on Friday said the govt was developing a national policy for AI in healthcare."Emerging technologies like AI can address critical health challenges, and this upcoming policy will provide a roadmap for its comprehensive application in health services," he said while speaking at a two-day national ‘Chintan Shivir' (brainstorming camp) organised by the NHA in Pune. Dr Barnwal also highlighted the success of Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (ABPMJAY) in reducing the financial burden on citizens.He also reflected on the scheme's seven-year journey, noting how data-driven transparency and AI were poised to shape the next phase of India's healthcare transformation.The event also saw the launch of NHA's digital academy, alongside the release of a new compilation of guidelines and the NHCX strategy paper.Speaking at the event, minister of state for health, Meghna Sakore Bordikar, emphasised the state govt's commitment to advanced technology. "Our policy is to maximise the use of AI and advanced tech across all departments to provide quality healthcare," she said.Bordikar further stressed the importance of preventive medicine, noting that Maharashtra is at the forefront of specialised care. "Maharashtra is the first state to launch dedicated menopause clinics. Since their inception in Jan, over 17,000 women have already benefited from these services," she added.The first day of the camp saw a comprehensive review of key performance indicators (KPIs) under ABPMJAY and ABDM. Several states, including Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Gujarat, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Bihar, presented their progress and shared experiences regarding digital health mission.The ‘Chintan Shivir' will continue on Saturday with a demonstration of NHCX-enabled health management information system (HMIS) and the presentation of findings from the health data analytics unit.
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