New Delhi, July 19: The Andaman and Nicobar Islands secured two national awards for its performance in implementing the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) and the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), with the recognition announced during the Chintan Shivir held in New Delhi on July 17 and 18.
The twin awards recognised the Union Territory’s implementation of two flagship healthcare programmes of the Government of India, highlighting its performance in expanding digital health systems and improving access to beneficiary services through technology-driven initiatives.
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands was adjudged the Best Performing Union Territory under Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana in the category of “Highest Pre-authorisations with Biometric Authentication.” The recognition acknowledges the Union Territory’s use of biometric authentication in processing pre-authorisations under the health insurance scheme, aimed at ensuring transparent, efficient and beneficiary-friendly healthcare services.
The Union Territory also received the Best Performing Union Territory Award under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission in the “Registry (HPR & HFR) Saturation” category. The award recognises the Administration’s achievement in saturating the Healthcare Professionals Registry (HPR) and Healthcare Facilities Registry (HFR), a key component of strengthening the digital health ecosystem across the Islands.
The awards were presented during the valedictory function of the Chintan Shivir organised by the National Health Authority. Punya Salila Srivastava, Secretary, Department of Health and Family Welfare, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, presented the awards in the presence of Sunil Kumar Barnwal, Chief Executive Officer, National Health Authority, and other dignitaries.
P. Lal, State Nodal Officer for Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana and Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, received both awards on behalf of the Union Territory.
The recognition places the Andaman and Nicobar Islands among the top-performing Union Territories in implementing two of the country’s flagship healthcare initiatives. The award under AB PM-JAY reflects the effective adoption of biometric authentication for processing beneficiary services, while the ABDM recognition acknowledges progress in creating comprehensive digital registries of healthcare professionals and healthcare facilities.
The awards were announced during the national-level Chintan Shivir, where implementation of flagship health programmes and digital healthcare initiatives formed part of the discussions. The recognition highlights the Union Territory’s performance in meeting the prescribed benchmarks under both schemes.
The twin honours also reflect the efforts of the Andaman and Nicobar Administration and the Health Department in strengthening digital healthcare infrastructure, improving service delivery mechanisms and facilitating seamless access to healthcare services under the Ayushman Bharat programmes across the Islands.
