The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is holding Arogya Manthan 2026, a major health sector conference, to mark the milestones achieved by two flagship programmes: Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) and the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM). Union Health Minister Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda will inaugurate the event at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi. The conference will launch several new digital health tools and data governance frameworks designed to strengthen India’s health assurance and digital health infrastructure.
Key facts
- AB PM-JAY covers over 60 crore beneficiaries and has facilitated more than 13 crore hospital admissions worth over Rs 2 lakh crore
- Expansion in October 2024 brought approximately 6 crore additional senior citizens aged 70 years and above into the scheme
- ABDM has created 97.8 crore Ayushman Bharat Health Accounts (ABHAs) as of 1 September 2026
- 121 crore health records have been linked under ABDM
- 5.6 lakh health facilities and 11 lakh healthcare professionals registered on ABDM
- Scheme provides health cover of up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year
What Arogya Manthan 2026 will launch
The conference will introduce several new tools and frameworks to strengthen the health ecosystem. These include the National Healthcare Providers Registry Mobile App, an implementation guide for health claims processors, a model digital health facility guidebook, a Secure Data Environment application, and a framework for automatic approval of claims under AB PM-JAY.
The Secure Data Environment (SDE), developed by the National Health Authority with support from the Indian Institute of Science Bengaluru, is a significant addition. It will serve as a controlled space where approved researchers and organisations can access and analyse de-identified health data from AB PM-JAY and ABDM. Researchers will either work with anonymised data or run their code within an isolated NHA environment, with all outputs reviewed before release. This approach aims to enable health research, programme evaluation and artificial intelligence development while protecting personal data and privacy.
Key discussion themes
The conference will focus on several priority areas. One session will examine how the National Health Claims Exchange can standardise and streamline health insurance processes using technology. Another will explore how to transform claims processing through data analytics and technology, focusing on improving programme integrity. Sessions will also address strategic purchasing approaches that balance quality of care with cost-effectiveness, the role of digital platforms in expanding healthcare access, and how common health data standards can improve information exchange between providers.
Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY: Eight years of progress
Launched in 2018, AB PM-JAY provides financial protection to vulnerable families against hospitalisation costs. Each beneficiary family gets coverage of Rs 5 lakh per year for secondary and tertiary care treatment. The scheme has grown to cover more than 60 crore individuals and has paid for over 13 crore hospital admissions. In October 2024, the government significantly expanded the scheme to include all senior citizens aged 70 years and above, regardless of income or poverty status, extending coverage to around 6 crore additional older people.
Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission: Five years of digital infrastructure
Launched in September 2021, ABDM created the digital foundation for a connected health ecosystem. Citizens registered under the scheme receive a unique health identification number called ABHA. The mission has linked over 121 crore health records to these accounts. A Registry of Healthcare Professionals with 11 lakh registered doctors and health workers, and a Registry of Health Facilities with 5.6 lakh institutions, enables seamless sharing of patient information across the system.
ABDM has also developed digital standards for health data and introduced citizen-friendly tools such as Scan & Register for quick patient enrollment, Scan & Pay for cashless transactions, and e-Sushrut Clinic for digital health services. The mission includes initiatives like the Strategy for Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare for India (SAHI), Common Lab Codes for India, and Bharat Health Terminology Service to standardise health data across the country.
What this means for you
If you are covered under AB PM-JAY, the new automatic claims approval framework will potentially reduce delays in claim settlement. Senior citizens aged 70 and above now have health coverage without needing to prove their financial status. The Secure Data Environment will enable researchers to study health outcomes and develop better health programmes using anonymised data, which could lead to improved healthcare quality over time. Patients will increasingly benefit from digital records that move seamlessly between hospitals and clinics, reducing paperwork and improving continuity of care.
Recognition of state performance
The conference will also acknowledge states and union territories that have performed well in implementing both AB PM-JAY and ABDM, encouraging competition and knowledge sharing across regions for better health programme delivery.