Project Sanjeevani powers state’s preventive healthcare revolution

Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh is rewriting the traditional approach to public healthcare by moving from a system focused on treating illnesses to one centred on prevention, early diagnosis and continuous monitoring.

As India works towards universal health coverage, the state is positioning itself as a model for how technology can make healthcare more accessible, affordable and citizen-focused. The transformation is being driven through Project Sanjeevani, a flagship initiative under the state’s Swarnandhra vision 2047, designed to create a preventive healthcare ecosystem by combining digital technology, data-based decision-making and doorstep services.The initiative, developed by a high-level team led by health minister Y Satya Kumar Yadav in line with the vision of chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu, aims to transform healthcare delivery by integrating digital infrastructure and public health services. This project is expected to bring preventive care to a single platform. Unlike the conventional model, where patients approach hospitals only after falling ill, Sanjeevani focuses on identifying health risks at an early stage and ensuring timely intervention.

The initiative seeks to create a connected healthcare network where citizens, doctors, diagnostic services and government systems work through a common digital framework.The pilot phase has delivered encouraging results. Launched in Kuppam in July 2025 and later expanded across Chittoor district, the programme has reached nearly 19.75 lakh people. Under the initiative, around 4.73 lakh citizens have been digitally registered, while nearly 3.97 lakh Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) enrolments have been completed.

More than 2.20 lakh people have received treatment through the integrated system, over 4.68 lakh medicines have been distributed, and nearly 26,000 laboratory tests have been conducted.The significance of the programme lies beyond these numbers. “By creating digital health records that link consultations, prescriptions, diagnostic reports and follow-up care, Sanjeevani enables continuity of treatment and helps healthcare providers take more informed decisions.

For citizens, it reduces dependence on repeated hospital visits and improves access to timely medical support,” said principal secretary (health) S Suresh Kumar.A key feature of the state’s healthcare strategy is collaboration with global and institutional partners. The association with the Gates Foundation has supported efforts in preventive healthcare, nutrition, digital health architecture and strengthening health systems.

Partnerships with organisations such as Tata Sanjeevani are also aimed at developing scalable healthcare solutions. The state’s long-term vision goes beyond digitising existing services.

It aims to build a predictive healthcare system that can identify emerging health risks, strengthen disease surveillance, expand telemedicine and improve specialist access through technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI).

For rural populations, where distance and limited availability of specialists often restrict access to quality healthcare, digital platforms can bridge critical gaps by connecting patients with medical expertise beyond geographical boundaries.Healthcare transformation under project Sanjeevani reflects a broader shift in public health thinking—from expanding facilities alone to creating smarter, preventive and people-oriented systems. “Our model underlines that the future of healthcare will depend on the effective combination of affordability, accessibility and digitisation. This initiative could offer valuable lessons for other States and countries looking to build inclusive healthcare systems driven by technology and public purpose,” said health minister Satya Kumar.