Andhra Pradesh's Sanjeevani Project: A Quiet Revolution in Public Healthcare
From doorstep screenings to AI-powered health advisories, Andhra Pradesh’s Sanjeevani Project is quietly reshaping public healthcare, building digital health profiles for 72.73 lakh people before illness strikes. Public healthcare in India has largely been reactive, with patients visiting hospitals only after symptoms worsen, paper files piling up in cupboards, and follow-ups often lost in the system. With the Sanjeevani Digital Health Project, Andhra Pradesh is moving healthcare beyond hospital walls and into villages, homes and mobile devices. The initiative promises not just treatment, but continuous health monitoring for nearly 72.73 lakh citizens, signalling a decisive shift from care to lifelong digital health management. What Is the Sanjeevani Digital Health Project? The Sanjeevani Digital Health Project is Andhra Pradesh’s most ambitious public healthcare reform in recent years, designed to digitise medical records, expand preventive screening, and use artificial intelligence to improve health outcomes at scale. Announced by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, the initiative aims to create comprehensive Digital Health Profiles for nearly 72.73 lakh people across the State. Unlike traditional health schemes, Sanjeevani is envisioned as a technology-driven ecosystem. The project combines mass medical screening, digital record-keeping, AI-based advisories, and specialist consultations to ensure early diagnosis, continuous monitoring, and timely intervention, particularly for lifestyle-related and chronic diseases that affect a majority of the population. The project marks a paradigm shift in how public healthcare is delivered in Andhra Pradesh, moving from manual, fragmented systems to a unified, data-driven model. A Statewide Rollout After A Kuppam Pilot The foundation of the Sanjeevani project was laid in Kuppam, the Chief Minister’s home constituency, where it was piloted on a limited scale. During the pilot phase, digital health records were created for more than 80,000 residents, and over 70,000 medical tests were conducted. The results offered a glimpse of how continuous health monitoring could transform early diagnosis and follow-up care. Encouraged by the outcomes, the State government announced the statewide rollout of the project, with implementation planned across all districts by 2026. Speaking at public meetings in Shantipuram mandal and Thulasinayanapalle village, Mr Naidu stressed that Sanjeevani was not merely a screening programme, but a long-term system designed to track health parameters throughout a citizen’s life. He described the initiative as central to the government’s vision of building a “Healthy Andhra Pradesh" through proactive, technology-enabled healthcare delivery. Screening Drive: 42 Tests For 72.73 Lakh People For the tests, the government plans to conduct 42 different types of medical tests for nearly 72.73 lakh people, covering both rural and urban populations. These tests will be conducted at village and ward secretariat levels, ensuring accessibility even in remote and underserved areas. According to the Chief Minister, early detection of the diseases is the key to lowering the financial burden on families and improving overall quality of life. By bringing screenings closer to people’s homes, the project aims to overcome traditional barriers such as travel costs, lack of awareness and long waiting times. Medical experts believe that large-scale, periodic screening can fundamentally alter disease trajectories. Dr Zankhana M. Buch, Chief Medical Officer, Apollo AyurVAID, Bengaluru, notes that regular screening provides a longitudinal view of a person’s health rather than isolated snapshots. “For cancer, early screening combined with identifying risk factors, such as underlying inflammation or family history, offers a proactive opportunity to manage these risks before they progress into severe complications," she explains. “Periodic screening is crucial because it helps detect trends and early signals of disease progression over time." Targeting the ‘Top 10’ Health Challenges The focus areas of the Sanjeevani project are guided by data. A comprehensive health department survey identified 10 major health conditions that currently affect nearly 80% of Andhra Pradesh’s population. The top 10 focus areas include: Digital Health Profiles For Patients One of the most transforming aspects of Sanjeevani is the creation of Digital Health Profiles for every registered individual. These profiles will consolidate medical tests, prescriptions, consultation history, and follow-up data into a single digital record. This transition from paper-based records to digital health data is expected to improve continuity of care. Doctors will be able to access patient histories instantly, reducing test duplication and enabling more accurate diagnoses. The digital profiles will also support long-term tracking of health indicators, allowing healthcare providers to identify trends, flag risks early, and alter interventions based on individual needs. The Role of AI And The Digi Nerve Centre Technology is the backbone of the Sanjeevani project. Developed in collaboration with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), the initiative integrates artificial intelligence at multiple levels. A central Digi Nerve Centre has been established to manage and process health data collected from Primary Health Centres (PHCs), village clinics, and hospitals. This hub digitises medical records, analyses health parameters, and supports AI-driven insights. Dr Buch, however, stresses that AI must remain a clinical support tool rather than a replacement for physicians. “AI-based health advisories can support decision-making by identifying patterns and trends in an individual’s health trajectory by correlating multiple variables," she says. “But the final clinical decision must always be made by the physician, based on evidence and patient context." One of the key innovations is the introduction of a “Health score" for individuals, generated using AI algorithms that assess overall well-being based on test results and medical history. AI-based advisories will also provide personalised health recommendations, reminders for regular screenings, and alerts for follow-up consultations, making healthcare more proactive and preventive. The project has also introduced mobile-based appointment booking, reducing the waiting time. This digital scheduling system is expected to streamline patient flow, minimise delays, and ensure more consistent standards of care. For many citizens, particularly those in rural areas, it also means fewer lost workdays and reduced travel expenses. Reducing The Burden On Tertiary Hospitals One of the long-term objectives of Sanjeevani is to ease pressure on tertiary hospitals by strengthening early diagnosis and secondary prevention at the community level. According to Dr Buch, early risk prediction across large populations can reduce the number of patients reaching advanced stages of disease. “Effective secondary prevention programmes, early interventions and risk mitigation, can reduce the burden on tertiary hospitals," she says. Patients Who Avoid Or Delay Care A persistent challenge in public healthcare is patients delaying or avoiding medical consultations due to fear, stigma, or lack of awareness. Health experts believe Sanjeevani could help address this gap. “A holistic platform like Sanjeevani can raise awareness and reduce stigma associated with proactive screening," Dr Buch observes. “When people are better informed about the benefits of early risk identification, they are more likely to seek timely medical advice." Insights From The Ground During visits to village health clinics in Tummisi and Shantipuram mandal, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu reviewed digital health records and interacted with villagers to assess the project’s impact at the grassroots level. He examined records of women suffering from anaemia and individuals facing chronic health challenges, directing the Health department to ensure continuous care and specialist support. Broader Vision Of Swarna Andhra 2047 Chief Minister Naidu has indicated that Bill Gates is expected to visit Andhra Pradesh to further discuss collaboration in healthcare and technology. The Sanjeevani Project aligns with the broader vision of “Swarna Andhra 2047," which aims to leverage innovation hubs like Amaravati’s proposed Quantum Valley alongside village-level service delivery. The Sanjeevani Digital Health Project highlights a significant reimagining of public healthcare in Andhra Pradesh. By combining mass screening, digital health records, AI-supported insights, and preventive care, the State is attempting to shift the healthcare narrative from reactive treatment to preventive care, laying the foundation for a healthier future.
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