Port Blair: For a geographically scattered archipelago like the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, where patients often have to travel across islands for medical consultation and treatment, digital healthcare is emerging as a game changer. By enabling seamless access to healthcare services and the secure exchange of electronic health records, the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) promises to bridge distances, improve continuity of care and make quality healthcare more accessible to islanders.
With this vision, the Programme Management Unit (PMU) of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), Andaman & Nicobar Islands, organised the State-Level Inaugural Workshop for the Model District Initiative – South Andaman at Lemon Tree Hotel, Sri Vijaya Puram, on July 10, marking a significant step towards building an integrated digital healthcare ecosystem in the Islands. The workshop was inaugurated by Commissioner-cum-Secretary (Health), A&N Administration, Dr. Sachin Shinde, in the presence of Deputy Commissioner, South Andaman, Ms. Purva Garg, among others.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Shinde described ABDM as a transformative initiative aimed at creating a secure, integrated and citizen-centric digital health ecosystem. He said digital health assumes even greater significance in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands due to their dispersed geography, enabling patients and healthcare providers to securely access and share electronic health records while ensuring uninterrupted healthcare services across islands.
During the inaugural session, the chief guest released the ABDM Newsletter 2025-26, highlighting the Mission’s major achievements and milestones across the Islands during the past year.
Delivering the keynote address virtually, Dr. Pankaj Kumar Arora, Director, National Health Authority, underscored the need for all healthcare institutions to adopt ABDM-compliant Hospital Management Information Systems (HMIS). He also highlighted the Digital Health Incentive Scheme (DHIS) and the citizen-centric features of the recently launched Arogya Setu 2.0 application.
Director of Health Services Dr. H. M. Siddaraju announced that South Andaman has been selected as the Model District under ABDM, with the objective of creating a fully integrated digital healthcare ecosystem that enhances accessibility, efficiency and continuity of healthcare services.
