Union Minister for Health and Welfare Jagat Prakash Nadda at the India Summit on the Impact of Artificial Intelligence on February 17, 2026 Photo: X/@MoHFW_INDIA
Union Health and Family Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda on Tuesday launched two 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.
“The launch marks a milestone in the advancement of safe, ethical and evidence-based deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) in the Indian healthcare ecosystem,” the ministry said in a release.
India AI Summit 2026, Day 2 Update on 17 February 2026
The minister said AI does not work in isolation but thrives on strong digital infrastructure and high-quality data. He noted that the National Health Policy 2017 envisioned the creation of a comprehensive digital health ecosystem that would be interoperable, inclusive and scalable.
“Based on this vision, the government launched the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) in 2020 to create a robust digital public architecture for healthcare,” he said.
Describing SAHI not just as a technology strategy but as a governance framework, policy compass and national blueprint for responsible use of AI in healthcare, Mr. Nadda said SAHI will lead India in using AI in an ethical, transparent, accountable and people-centric manner.
Additionally, collaboration between government and academia has led to the development of the BODH, which provides a structured mechanism for testing and validating AI solutions prior to large-scale deployment.
“AI solutions must be rigorously evaluated for performance, reliability and real-world readiness. Together, SAHI and BODH represent India’s commitment to building a credible, inclusive and globally competitive AI ecosystem for health based on innovation, accountability and public trust,” he said.
Published – 17 Feb 2026 19:55 IST