The Ayushman Sarathi Chatbot for Healthcare Services

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The Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare recently launched Ayushman Sarathi, which is an official WhatsApp chatbot for the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY).

Ayushman Sarathi is a secure, API-based digital health interface that runs directly on WhatsApp. The National Health Authority (NHA) developed it under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to let citizens connect with PM-JAY systems through simple automated messages.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare serves as the nodal ministry, while the National Health Authority (NHA) handles execution and monitoring.
The platform aims to provide an easy conversational system so citizens do not need to visit government offices or call centers for basic card management.
It ensures secure and real-time delivery of healthcare services to eligible families, with a special focus on senior citizens and rural residents.

Users can check their eligibility, apply for new cards, download digital cards, complete eKYC, and link identification profiles.
Beneficiaries can lock or unlock their PM-JAY cards directly on WhatsApp to protect against misuse or identity theft.
A dedicated module for the Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card helps senior citizens aged 70 years and above manage their specialized health benefits easily.
Users can check their remaining insurance balance, view medical history records, and search for nearby empanelled hospitals.
Citizens can register or track grievances, request callbacks, and log feedback to monitor hospital care quality.
The service is available 24x7 by scanning an NHA QR code or by texting Hi to the WhatsApp number +91 72908 23838.

Using WhatsApp gives users app-free access to healthcare services, which helps bridge the digital divide in rural areas.
The chatbot collects real-time feedback and grievance data, helping authorities identify poor-performing hospitals and improve service delivery.