New Delhi: Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda on Tuesday said that continuous efforts have led to the creation of a robust digital public infrastructure (DPI) in the healthcare ecosystem in India. Launching two new digital health initiatives—SAHI (Secure AI for Health Initiative) and BODH (Benchmarking Open Data Platform for Health AI)—during the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, Nadda said, “Interoperable systems have been introduced across platforms, and large-scale, consent-based health data frameworks are being developed to empower citizens while ensuring data privacy and security.”
This launch marks a significant milestone in advancing the safe, ethical, and evidence-based use of artificial intelligence (AI) in India’s healthcare sector. Nadda said, “The launch of SAHI and BODH at the AI India Summit reflects India’s forward-looking vision of aligning digital innovation with public health priorities. These initiatives will promote responsible innovation and strengthen trust in AI-enabled healthcare solutions.” Describing the summit as timely and necessary, Nadda emphasized that AI does not work in isolation, but rather relies on robust digital infrastructure and high-quality data. He said, “Recognizing this early, India began laying its digital foundation almost a decade ago. In 2015, under the leadership of the Prime Minister, the government launched the Digital India program to transform India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy.”
The Union Minister said that the health sector has fully aligned with this national vision. The National Health Policy 2017 envisioned creating a large digital health ecosystem that would be interoperable, inclusive, and scalable. Furthering this vision, the government launched the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) in 2020 to build a robust digital public architecture for healthcare.
He said, “SAHI is not just a technology strategy, but a governance framework, policy compass, and national roadmap for the responsible use of AI in healthcare. SAHI will guide India in leveraging AI in a manner that is ethical, transparent, accountable, and people-centric.”
JP Nadda also emphasized that SAHI provides a streamlined framework for collaboration, ensuring that innovation flourishes and public interest is paramount.
The Health Minister also highlighted the transformative potential of AI in pharmaceuticals and life sciences. He said, “AI-powered tools can accelerate drug discovery, reduce research timelines, increase the accuracy of clinical trials, and make the research process more cost-effective, thereby strengthening affordable healthcare.”
Nadda also emphasized the crucial role of academic institutions in building a future-ready healthcare AI workforce. He said, “The collaboration between the government and academia has led to the development of BODH — the Benchmarking Open Data Platform for Health AI — which provides a streamlined system for testing and validating AI solutions before large-scale deployment.”
Nadda reiterated that AI solutions must be thoroughly tested to ensure their performance, reliability, and real-world readiness. He said, “SAHI and BODH together demonstrate India’s commitment to building a reliable, inclusive, and globally competitive health AI ecosystem based on innovation, responsibility, and public trust.”
