India’s expanding digital healthcare infrastructure could help improve disease diagnosis, treatment and prevention, with artificial intelligence (AI) expected to play an increasingly important role in using health information more effectively. Prof. Dr M Srinivas, a member of NITI Aayog and former director of AIIMS Delhi, has highlighted the potential of data generated through the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) to strengthen healthcare delivery in India and other developing regions.
Speaking at the 20th edition of FICCI HEAL 2026, themed HEAL@20: From Vision to Value, Srinivas said India had developed a strong digital health ecosystem. He emphasised that using this information effectively could support better clinical decisions and create opportunities to improve healthcare outcomes across the Global South.
His remarks also highlighted the importance of patient safety, affordable treatment and more balanced access to medical services.
How Digital Health Records Could Improve Patient Care
The Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission aims to connect different parts of the healthcare system through interoperable digital infrastructure. One of its key components is the Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA), which enables individuals to link their health records across participating healthcare providers.
Digital records could help doctors access relevant medical information when patients move between hospitals, clinics and diagnostic centres. This may reduce the need to reconstruct medical histories during every visit and support greater continuity of care.
With appropriate consent and privacy protections, health information could also help clinicians understand previous diagnoses, investigations and treatments more efficiently.
Srinivas said structured data and interoperable electronic health records were central to the next phase of India's digital health development. Artificial intelligence could help analyse such information, potentially supporting clinical decision-making, medical research and healthcare planning.
However, the benefits will depend on the quality of the data, effective implementation and safeguards that protect sensitive patient information.
AI Could Strengthen Disease Prevention and Research
The growing availability of digital health information could create opportunities to identify patterns in disease, improve resource planning and support evidence-based public health policies.
AI-assisted analysis may help healthcare professionals identify risks earlier and make more informed decisions. At a broader level, aggregated health information could support research and help policymakers understand changing healthcare needs.
These possibilities do not mean that technology can replace doctors or guarantee better outcomes on its own. Reliable information, clinical oversight, appropriate validation and responsible data governance remain essential for the safe use of AI in healthcare.
Srinivas's comments placed India's digital health infrastructure within a wider international context, suggesting that systems developed to address the country's large and diverse population could also offer lessons for other countries.
NITI Aayog Member Calls for Minimum Hospital Safety Standards
Alongside digital innovation, Srinivas stressed that every hospital should meet basic standards for patient safety and quality of care. He said India needed consistent benchmarks so that patients could expect acceptable standards of treatment across healthcare facilities.
The emphasis on safety reflects a broader challenge: expanding access to medical services must be accompanied by efforts to improve treatment quality and protect patients.
Digital systems may support better coordination, but improvements in hospital practices, clinical processes and accountability are also necessary to deliver dependable care.
Affordable Healthcare Needed Beyond Major Cities
Srinivas also urged private hospitals to expand affordable services in tier-2 and tier-3 cities, where access to advanced healthcare can be uneven. A wider distribution of services could reduce the need for patients to travel long distances for treatment.
He further emphasised preventing non-communicable diseases rather than relying predominantly on treatment at specialised hospitals. Prevention, early diagnosis and timely medical intervention can help address health risks before they require more complex care.
The Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, which focuses on financial protection for eligible beneficiaries, is another part of the broader effort to make healthcare more accessible.
Turning Digital Infrastructure Into Measurable Results
India has made substantial progress in building digital health infrastructure, but the next challenge is ensuring that healthcare providers use it effectively and that patients experience tangible benefits.
Interoperable records, responsible AI applications, minimum safety standards and more affordable services could collectively strengthen the healthcare system. Achieving these outcomes will require coordination between government agencies, hospitals, technology providers and medical professionals.
Srinivas's remarks underline a central priority for India's healthcare future: digital innovation must translate into safer treatment, earlier intervention and more equitable access to quality medical care.
