The year 2025 marked significant progress in India's public health landscape, characterized by the expansion of flagship schemes, a massive leap in digital health adoption, and accelerated efforts to eliminate tuberculosis. The government deepened its focus on integrating new-age technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) to strengthen healthcare delivery across the nation.
Digital Health Revolution & Scheme Expansion
India's push for enhanced digital health services yielded remarkable results. The eSanjeevani telemedicine service emerged as a cornerstone, providing over 43.2 crore free tele-consultations. This initiative crucially bridged the urban-rural divide, ensuring specialist care reached remote areas, with women constituting 57 per cent of the beneficiaries.
The Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) gained widespread acceptance, with citizens actively creating and using digital health records. By December 26, 2025, more than 84.35 crore ABHA (health) accounts had been created, including 12.09 crore in 2025 alone. Furthermore, 80.66 crore health records were linked to these accounts, with 35.52 crore linked in 2025.
In a major expansion, the government's flagship Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) was extended to Delhi and Odisha after they signed MoUs with the Health Ministry. This move leaves only West Bengal outside the Centre's universal healthcare coverage net. Since its 2018 launch, approximately 42.48 crore Ayushman cards have been created, authorizing 10.98 crore hospital admissions worth ₹1.60 lakh crore.
An Android-based 'Ayushman app' was launched, enabling self-verification for beneficiaries through multiple authentication modes like face-auth, OTP, IRIS, and fingerprint, making card creation accessible from any mobile device. The Ayushman Vay Vandana initiative for senior citizens aged 70+ also gained momentum, enrolling over 94.19 lakh people for free treatment benefits up to ₹5 lakh per year.
Accelerating the Fight Against Tuberculosis
India's campaign for a TB-free nation saw strengthened testing, treatment, and nutritional support. The global community took note, with the WHO's Global TB Report 2025 highlighting a 21 per cent decline in India's TB incidence rate—from 237 per 100,000 population in 2015 to 187 in 2024.
The report also documented a 25 per cent reduction in TB deaths, from 28 per lakh population in 2015 to 21 per lakh in 2024. Access to TB treatment coverage surged from 53% in 2015 to 92% in 2024. Notably, the number of 'missing' TB cases plummeted from 10 lakh in 2015 to less than 1 lakh in 2024.
Case notifications have shown a consistent rise:
- 2022: 24.2 lakh cases (surpassing pre-2019 levels)
- 2023: 25.52 lakh cases
- 2024: 26.18 lakh cases
- 2025 (Jan-Oct): 22.64 lakh cases
The 100 Days TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, launched in December 2024 across 347 high-priority districts, was expanded to cover all districts nationwide, employing a 'whole of government and society' approach.
AI-Driven Reforms for Future-Proof Healthcare
The Health Ministry launched a comprehensive AI-driven reform to fortify the public health system. Central to this were three centres of excellence for AI in healthcare established at AIIMS Delhi, PGIMER Chandigarh, and AIIMS Rishikesh.
A collaborative ecosystem was developed with key organizations, including the Central TB Division, NCDC, CDAC-Mohali, ICMR, MeitY, and the Indian Institute of Science, with technical support from the Wadhwani Institute of Artificial Intelligence.
These efforts led to the successful implementation of impactful AI tools:
- Clinical Decision Support System (CDSS) integrated with e-Sanjeevani.
- An AI-based media disease surveillance tool under the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme.
- AI-powered diabetic retinopathy screening solutions.
- Various AI tools specifically designed to support the tuberculosis elimination drive.
"These AI solutions have delivered measurable impact," an official stated, underscoring the tangible benefits of this technological integration.
While the COVID-19 pandemic faded from public memory, a minor surge in cases occurred in June 2025, influenced by trends in parts of Asia. However, the trajectory soon declined, with most cases being mild and not requiring hospitalization, thus avoiding widespread panic.
