NHA renews MoU with DHR and ICMR to strengthen evidence-based healthcare decision-making

The National Health Authority (NHA), the implementing agency of Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) and the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), has renewed its Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Department of Health Research (DHR) and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

The renewed collaboration aims to further strengthen technical cooperation for evidence-based decision-making to optimise healthcare resource allocation and enhance quality across India’s flagship health schemes.

The MoU was formally signed by Dr Sunil Kumar Barnwal, CEO, National Health Authority, and Dr Rajiv Bahl, Secretary, Department of Health Research and Director General, ICMR.

The renewed agreement will extend the collaboration to the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM). Under this, DHR and ICMR, through the Health Technology Assessment India (HTAIn) initiative, will provide data-driven insights to evaluate digital health interventions—including electronic health records (EHRs), telemedicine platforms, and AI-based diagnostics—to ensure their affordability, efficiency, and sustainability within the ABDM ecosystem.