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India has introduced two key initiatives: SAHI and BODH, to guide responsible AI adoption in healthcare. Union Health Minister JP Nadda’s announcement at the AI Impact Summit 2026 also signals a stronger regulatory approach in healthcare. The move also aims to balance innovation and patient safety.
The initiatives, SAHI (Secure AI for Health Initiative) and BODH (Benchmarking Open Data Platform for Health AI), are positioned as a national roadmap for the development, validation, and deployment of AI tools in hospitals, public health systems, pharmaceutical research, and digital health platforms.
Developed by IIT Kanpur in collaboration with the National Health Authority, BODH will enable the systematic evaluation of AI models using diverse, anonymised real-world health datasets.
“Interoperable systems have been enabled across platforms, and large-scale, consent-based health data frameworks are being developed to empower citizens while ensuring data privacy and security,” Nadda said at the launch.
He further added, “The launch of SAHI and BODH at the India AI Summit shows the country’s forward-looking vision of integrating digital innovation with public health priorities. These initiatives will foster responsible innovation while reinforcing trust in AI-enabled healthcare solutions.”
India began laying its digital foundations nearly a decade ago. The government launched the Digital India programme in 2015 to transform the country into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy.
The National Health Policy, launched in 2017, focused on a comprehensive, scalable digital health ecosystem. The government also launched the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) in 2020 to establish a strong digital public health architecture.
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AI is widely used in diagnostic imaging, administrative automation, and patient monitoring. AI tools help healthcare providers spend less time on administrative tasks and more time providing direct, in-person patient care.
According to authorities, BODH will evaluate systems for accuracy, bias, reliability, and adaptability while maintaining patient data privacy.
AI in healthcare is a powerful tool whose impact depends on how responsibly it is deployed. If handled carefully, the technology could strengthen healthcare systems, turning cautious optimism into lasting progress. The government is introducing strict data privacy rules, validation parameters, accountability systems for improved data practices, and a renewed focus on human-centered care.
The Minister also focused on the potential of AI in pharmaceutical research and clinical trials. He claimed that advanced algorithms could shorten drug discovery cycles, improve trial precision, and lower costs, thereby enabling affordable healthcare delivery.
