Pankaj Arora

Dr. Pankaj Kumar Arora is a senior public health leader with over two decades of experience conceptualizing, implementing, and managing large-scale health programs across India. He currently serves as Director at the National Health Authority, Government of India, where he plays a pivotal role in steering the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), the world’s largest publicly funded health assurance scheme.

Dr. Arora has been instrumental in leading critical components of AB PM-JAY, including provider onboarding, claims adjudication, and convergence with state health systems. He also contributes significantly to digital transformation in healthcare through the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, shaping India’s emerging digital health ecosystem.

Previously, Dr. Arora served in the Indian Railways Medical Service, where he spearheaded strategic reforms in hospital management and introduced digital health innovations to improve service delivery. He has actively collaborated with various ministries—including the Ministry of Labour & Employment, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, and Ministry of Road Transport & Highways—and has engaged with international development partners to advance India’s Universal Health Coverage goals.

Academically, Dr. Arora holds an MSc in Global Health Policy from the London School of Economics, an MS in Surgery, and an MBBS. He is a member of the ISQua Academy of Quality and Safety in Health Care and has authored several peer-reviewed publications in public health and clinical medicine.