New Delhi, Delhi, 24th of February, 2026 : In a step towards augmenting critical care capacity through technology-driven solutions, the Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Shri J.P. Nadda inaugurated the AI-Enabled E-ICU Command Centre at Yashoda Medicity, Ghaziabad today. The Command Centre is designed to integrate artificial intelligence with centralized monitoring systems to support improved clinical outcomes and streamlined intensive care management.
Addressing the gathering, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda commended Yashoda Medicity for delivering high-quality healthcare services across 65 specialities and for establishing a comprehensive multi-specialty ecosystem. He appreciated the integration of the E-ICU facility with MMG District Hospital as a reflection of the institution’s commitment towards corporate social responsibility and collaborative public health strengthening.
The Union Health Minister highlighted that AI-enabled healthcare brings together timely intervention, precision in diagnosis, and continuous real-time monitoring, which are critical in emergency and intensive care settings where swift decision-making can significantly influence outcomes. He noted that AI-supported ICUs provide early warnings in adverse clinical situations, enable better identification of high-risk cases, and assist clinicians with data-driven insights for improved decision-making. He stated that the inauguration of the AI-Enabled E-ICU Command Centre would further strengthen critical care delivery and enhance patient safety.
Referring to the broader national vision, the Minister stated that under the leadership of the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the Government has prioritised the integration of digital technologies and Artificial Intelligence in healthcare as part of the vision of a Digital and AI-enabled India. He recalled that the National Health Policy, 2017 laid the foundation for building a comprehensive digital health ecosystem aligned with the Digital India initiative, aimed at transforming healthcare delivery through technology.
He informed that more than 1.81 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs have been operationalised across the country, significantly strengthening the delivery of comprehensive primary healthcare services. Of these, over 50,000 centres have already been certified under the National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS), demonstrating tangible progress in improving quality benchmarks. The Minister stated that the Government has set a target to ensure that all Ayushman Arogya Mandirs achieve NQAS certification within the next two years, thereby institutionalising uniform and high standards of care at the primary level across the country.
Shri Nadda further highlighted the progress of the eSanjeevani telemedicine platform and stated that, to date, telemedicine services through teleconsultations have been delivered to 45.2 crore people across the country, significantly enhancing access to specialist healthcare services, particularly in remote and underserved areas.
He also referred to the U-WIN digital platform for tracking maternal and child health services, under which pregnant women are registered and monitored to ensure timely antenatal check-ups and immunisation. He informed that U-WIN registrations have crossed 11.47 crore, supporting the Universal Immunisation Programme that provides 27 doses of vaccines protecting against 12 vaccine-preventable diseases, contributing to nearly 99 percent immunisation coverage.
Highlighting the impact of digital tools and AI in disease control, the Union Health Minister noted that AI-enabled handheld X-ray devices have strengthened tuberculosis screening efforts. He stated that India’s TB incidence decline rate of 17 percent is significantly higher than the global average of 7 percent. He further informed that improvements in maternal mortality and under-five mortality indicators have outpaced global averages, attributing these gains to strengthened digital tracking and targeted interventions.
The Minister also referred to the launch of the SAHI (Strategy for Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare for India) portal during the AI Summit to promote responsible and ethical use of Artificial Intelligence in healthcare, along with the BODH (Benchmarking Open Data Platform for Health AI) initiative for validation and testing of AI-based health solutions.
Highlighting India’s achievements in public health, he stated that the country has emerged as a global leader in vaccination and affordable pharmaceutical production. He noted that while vaccines and treatments historically took decades to develop, India developed two indigenous COVID-19 vaccines within nine months and administered over 220 crore doses, supported by a fully digital certification system.
Referring to Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, the Minister stated that it is the world’s largest publicly funded health assurance scheme, covering approximately 62 crore beneficiaries, including all senior citizens above 70 years of age irrespective of socio-economic status, with health coverage of ₹5 lakh per family per year. Citing findings reported in The Lancet, he stated that the initiation of cancer treatment within 90 days of detection has been facilitated due to the expanded financial protection and streamlined access to care provided under Ayushman Bharat Yojana, reflecting the scheme’s impact in enabling timely intervention and reducing delays in treatment.
The Union Health Minister emphasised that the integration of AI and digital innovation into healthcare systems reflects a transformative policy shift, strengthening accessibility, affordability, quality, and equity in healthcare delivery across the country.
The AI-Enabled E-ICU Command Centre inaugurated at Yashoda Medicity connects the Base Command Centre with the ICU facility at MMG District Hospital, enabling Artificial Intelligence-supported real-time monitoring of critically ill patients. The system integrates hospital information systems and bedside devices into a centralized dashboard, where AI-driven analytics support risk stratification, generate early alerts for clinical deterioration, and facilitate timely, evidence-based interventions through round-the-clock specialist oversight.
The initiative is expected to strengthen critical care services at the district hospital level by enhancing clinical coordination, standardising treatment protocols, and supporting on-ground medical teams through structured guidance. By extending specialist supervision to underserved regions, the model seeks to improve patient outcomes and expand access to quality intensive care, in alignment with the Government’s broader efforts to strengthen digital health and critical care infrastructure across the country.
Senior officials of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, representatives of Yashoda Medicity, medical professionals, and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.
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