NHA Partners with Maharashtra University to Launch Digital Health Course Nationwide
In a significant move to advance digital health education across India, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the National Health Authority (NHA) and Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS) in the presence of Union Health Minister, J P Nadda. This collaboration will see MUHS offering its Digital Health Foundation Course (DHFC) to NHA and co-developing additional digital health programs to support the roll-out of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM). The NHA will continue to steer government policy on creating an interoperable digital health ecosystem across the country, with plans to develop further courses in the future.
Union Health Minister J P Nadda hailed the partnership as a milestone in integrating digital health education into medical curricula, emphasizing its role in creating a more connected and effective healthcare ecosystem. He noted that this initiative would not only enhance the skills of medical students and professionals but also drive the broader implementation of ABDM, ultimately improving access to quality care for millions of Indians.
Nadda highlighted the importance of capacity-building for health workers to effectively implement the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) and praised MUHS for designing a course that meets the needs of health workers. He emphasized that the NHA would ensure that this initiative reaches the ground level, contributing to the strengthening of India’s healthcare system.
Deepti Gaur Mukerjee, CEO of the National Health Authority, underscored the evolving nature of digital health and the need to build awareness among all stakeholders in the health ecosystem. She stated that the partnership with MUHS would accelerate the adoption of digital health solutions across India, ensuring that future healthcare professionals are well-prepared to leverage these technologies for better patient outcomes and efficient healthcare delivery.
Lt Gen Madhuri Kanitkar (Retd), Vice-Chancellor of MUHS, expressed pride in making Maharashtra the first state in India to introduce digital health education for all medical students. She noted that MUHS is committed to supporting NHA in the national roll-out of the program.
The Digital Health Foundation Course (DHFC), developed by MUHS with support from the Koita Foundation, is designed to prepare healthcare professionals for the digital transformation and adoption of ABDM. The DHFC curriculum, curated by leading doctors and subject matter experts, offers a comprehensive understanding of digital health fundamentals. The course will be tailored for stakeholders in the public health ecosystem and will be available to medical students, in-service doctors, and healthcare professionals through platforms like Mission Karmayogi’s iGOT, providing opportunities for digital health certification and continuing medical education credits.
Apurva Chandra, Union Health Secretary, senior officials from the Union Health Ministry, Rizwan Koita, Director of the Koita Foundation, and other senior officials from MUHS were also present at the occasion.
Digital health is becoming a key catalyst in driving India's healthcare sector forward. Launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 27th September 2021, the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) aims to establish a robust digital health ecosystem through active collaboration between the public and private sectors. ABDM seeks to integrate various healthcare entities—hospitals, clinics, labs, pharmacies, health insurance companies, and more—to improve patient care, accessibility, and affordability. Realizing the full potential of digital health and ABDM requires extensive training and awareness among healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, frontline workers, paramedics, and medical students.