New Delhi: India took a major step toward regulating and strengthening technology-driven healthcare as Union Health Minister JP Nadda launched two national platforms—SAHI (Secure AI for Health Initiative) and BODH (Benchmarking Open Data Platform for Health AI)—at the India AI Impact Summit 2026.
Describing the moment as a step forward for India’s healthcare transformation, Nadda said the country has steadily built the digital foundations needed to support innovation in health services. He noted that interoperable systems and consent-based health data frameworks are being developed to empower citizens while safeguarding privacy and security.
“The launch of SAHI and BODH reflects India’s forward-looking approach to combining digital innovation with public health priorities,” he said, adding that the goal is to promote responsible development while strengthening trust in technology-led healthcare solutions.
Building on a Decade of Digital Reform
Nadda said India’s journey began nearly a decade ago with the launch of the Digital India program under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The initiative aimed to transform the country into a digitally empowered society and laid the groundwork for reforms across sectors.
In healthcare, the vision was outlined in the National Health Policy 2017, followed by the rollout of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) in 2020. The mission established a digital public health infrastructure designed to be inclusive, scalable, and interoperable.
Launched two important digital health initiatives — SAHI (Strategy for AI in Healthcare for India) and BODH (Benchmarking Open Data Platform for Health AI) at the India AI Impact Summit today. This is a major step towards safe, ethical and evidence-based use of AI in healthcare.… pic.twitter.com/9rPK2Do7gk
— Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) February 17, 2026
What SAHI and BODH Aim to Do
SAHI has been designed as a national framework to guide the safe and ethical adoption of advanced digital tools in healthcare. It will set standards to ensure that solutions meet strict benchmarks for safety, effectiveness, and ethical compliance before being implemented at scale. The framework also seeks to bring together healthcare institutions, technology developers, researchers, and policymakers on a common platform.
BODH, developed by the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur in partnership with the National Health Authority, will serve as an evaluation platform. It will test models using anonymized, real-world health datasets to measure performance, robustness, and fairness before deployment. The aim is to ensure that tools used by clinicians are reliable and suited to India’s diverse healthcare landscape.
Nadda emphasized that SAHI is not just a technical initiative but a governance roadmap that promotes transparency, accountability, and patient-centric care.
India takes a giant leap in #HealthTech with the launch of SAHI (Strategy for AI in Healthcare for India).
This national roadmap for AI in healthcare ensures an ethical, responsible, and people-centric approach. We’re transforming medical care to be smarter and more accessible… pic.twitter.com/Qb2RXAjM8a
— Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) February 17, 2026
Global Recognition and Future Outlook
Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava described the twin initiatives as a structured mechanism to guide adoption and integration across both public and private healthcare systems.
Dr. Catharina Boehme, Officer-in-Charge at the World Health Organization South-East Asia Regional Office, praised India’s leadership, noting that the country is among the first to adopt a national strategy in this domain. She said the framework could serve as a global benchmark, particularly in extending quality healthcare to underserved communities.
Highlighting the broader impact, Nadda pointed to the potential of digital tools in pharmaceuticals and life sciences, saying they could accelerate research, improve clinical precision, and support affordable healthcare delivery.
