PM Modi To Launch New Integrated AI-Powered App For Better Health Services    

The app, tentatively named Aarogya Setu 2.0, is likely to be launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi later this month, in the presence of Union Health Minister J P Nadda. Sources told The Secretariat that the plan to develop an integrated app is aimed at providing seamless and easy access to health services to users across the country.    

Originally, Aarogya Setu was launched as a mobile application aimed at protecting the citizens during Covid-19. The original app has now transformed to the National Health App, offering a whole plethora of digital health services powered by Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM). 

Using Aarogya Setu, users can now register themselves for Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ie, the digital health ID) and leverage it for interaction with participating healthcare providers, as well as receive digital lab reports, prescriptions, and diagnoses, seamlessly, from verified healthcare professionals and health service providers.

However, the proposed app is expected to add more features to the digital interface and help ensure better services to the patients, sources said. 

Aarogya Setu 2.0: Designed to bring multiple health services onto a single, citizen-centric digital platform

Sources stated that the vision for the new health app stemmed from the need to simplify and consolidate digital health services under one umbrella. With India's healthcare ecosystem becoming increasingly tech-enabled, after the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), the revamped app is designed to offer a single platform for accessing a wide range of healthcare services, removing fragmentation and complexity for users. According to Government statistics, over 80 crore users have utilised the services of various health apps over the past few years. 

Affordable and quality healthcare has been a primary focus area for PM Modi, who has repeatedly touched upon the topic in his ‘Mann Ki Baat’. Sources stated that under the redeveloped app, the user will be able to access a plethora of services by logging onto just one application. 

App To Utilise AI To Empower Users With:

• Complete control of their health records and medical history
• Access nearby health services and providers without barriers 
• Book appointments and teleconsultations with ease 
• Manage family health needs from one application 
• Benefit from government health schemes and insurance services transparently

ABDM Related Services:

• Creation and login using ABHA (Ayushman Bharat Health Account) 
• Access to health records from any ABDM-enabled facility
• Quick “Scan and Share” for OPD registration at hospitals and clinics 
• Digital payments for health services through “Scan and Pay” 
• Seamless sharing of health records with healthcare providers 

Health Records Management:

• Consent-based sharing of health records 
• Secure storage of personal and family health records in a digital locker 
• Option for self-uploading records for easy retrieval 
• AI/ML-driven insights to view trends and track health status 
• Alerts for critical care, medicines, and upcoming appointments 

Access to Healthcare Services:

• Discovery of doctors, laboratories, hospitals, blood banks, and ambulances nearby 
• Appointment booking with service providers through the Unified Health Interface (UHI) 
• Teleconsultations with healthcare professionals 
• Access to health articles, awareness programmes, and assessment tools 
• Integration of national and state health programmes for better outreach 
• Integration of smart wearables like smartwatch, smart scales, CGM, etc

Health Insurance and Claims:

• Eligibility checks for Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY)
• View empanelled hospitals, treatment details, and wallet balances for family members 
• Integration with the National Health Claim Exchange (NHCX) to view policies, respond to queries, and file claims seamlessly across insurers and service providers 

How The App Will Impact Users

The development of a unified, AI-powered app is expected to completely change the healthcare system of the country. It promises to empower users by unifying health records, services, and insurance access under one AI-powered interface, thereby achieving the Union government's plan to make healthcare more accessible, efficient, and citizen-driven.

It is essentially a move towards digital health innovation that promises to be a pivotal tool in democratising access to quality healthcare for every Indian.