India to Launch Aarogya Setu 2.0 and National Drug Registry in Major Digital Health Push

The Indian government is set to unveil a comprehensive package of digital health initiatives on Monday, June 29, 2026, marking what officials describe as a milestone in the country's journey toward a connected and interoperable healthcare ecosystem. Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare and Chemicals & Fertilizers, Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda, will lead the launch event at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, with state representatives, healthcare leaders, technology partners, and industry stakeholders in attendance.

Developed under the aegis of the National Health Authority (search)Search term (NHA) and the National Resource Centre for EHR Standards (search)Search term (NRCeS), the initiatives span citizen-facing applications, provider-focused solutions, interoperability frameworks, registries, and data standards. According to the Health Ministry, they are expected to "enhance accessibility, efficiency and interoperability across the healthcare ecosystem while benefiting citizens, healthcare providers, insurers, technology innovators and policymakers alike."

Aarogya Setu 2.0: A Personal Health Record for Every Citizen

At the center of the launch is Aarogya Setu 2.0, a revamped personal health record (PHR) application that builds on the digital infrastructure and public trust established during the COVID-19 pandemic. The application serves as a single-platform gateway to multiple digital health services, enabling citizens to create and manage their Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA), access and share digital health records, and participate in consent-based health information exchange.

The app incorporates AI-powered health insights and smart health reports, wearable device integration, outpatient department (OPD) registration through a "Scan & Register" feature, hospital payments via "Scan & Pay," medication reminders, and family health management tools. It also facilitates discovery of nearby healthcare facilities, doctors, ambulance services, blood banks with real-time blood unit availability, and Jan Aushadhi Kendras.

For beneficiaries of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (search)Search drug (AB PM-JAY) health insurance scheme, the enhanced Ayushman App will function as a one-stop digital platform providing eligibility verification, Ayushman Card services, treatment history, hospital discovery, grievance redressal, and beneficiary support.

Complementing the app, the government will launch Ayushman Sarathi, a WhatsApp chatbot designed to deliver PM-JAY services through a conversational interface, aimed at improving accessibility and strengthening last-mile service delivery.

National Health Claims Exchange and Unified Health Interface

Among the provider-focused and infrastructure initiatives, the National Health Claims Exchange (NHCX) represents a significant digital public infrastructure for health claims processing. The platform will enable standardized exchange of health claims information between providers and payers across both public and private health insurance programs, reducing administrative burden and facilitating faster, more efficient claims processing.

To further strengthen interoperability within the claims ecosystem, the NHA will introduce a utility that converts payers' insurance plans into standardized FHIR bundles, supporting uniform and error-free creation of insurance plan information.

The Unified Health Interface (UHI) will also be dedicated to the nation, enabling digital applications to connect citizens with healthcare service providers through a common interoperable framework, thereby facilitating easier discovery and access to healthcare services.

e-Sushrut Clinic: Digitizing Clinical Workflows

For healthcare providers, the government will unveil e-Sushrut Clinic, described as a plug-and-play clinic management solution. The platform enables healthcare providers to digitize clinical workflows, maintain electronic health records, and seamlessly integrate with the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) ecosystem. It is expected to support healthcare facilities in adopting digital health technologies and delivering more efficient patient care.

Drug Registry and Standardization: A Common Language for Digital Healthcare

Recognizing that interoperability depends on common standards and shared vocabularies, the government will launch three foundational standardization initiatives. The Drug Registry aims to standardize medicine-related information across the healthcare ecosystem by enabling uniform coding of medicines across digital health applications, strengthening prescribing, dispensing, and healthcare data exchange.

The Common LOINC Codes for India (CLCI), developed by NRCeS, is a nationally curated subset of international laboratory standards tailored for Indian healthcare needs. It will enable standardized representation of laboratory observations and diagnostic information, supporting seamless exchange of laboratory data across hospitals, laboratories, and digital health platforms while improving consistency, data quality, and clinical decision-making.

The Bharat Health Terminology Service (BHTS), also developed by NRCeS, will provide access to standardized healthcare terminologies, code systems, and value sets to support semantic interoperability across digital health systems.

Together, the Drug Registry, CLCI, and BHTS are designed to "establish a common language for digital healthcare in India, enabling healthcare providers, laboratories, insurers and digital platforms to exchange and interpret health information seamlessly," according to the Health Ministry.

These initiatives collectively aim to strengthen India's Digital Public Infrastructure for Health through enhanced interoperability, standardization, and seamless exchange of health information, supporting the government's broader vision of accessible, affordable, and inclusive healthcare for all citizens.