In a significant achievement demonstrating the strengthening of the country’s healthcare infrastructure, India has crossed a major milestone of operationalizing 150,000 Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centers (AB-HWC) by 31 December. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi applauded the nation’s efforts to achieve this feat ahead of schedule and praised that these centers will serve to provide easy access and utilization of primary healthcare facilities to citizens across the country.
Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister of Health and Family Welfare, congratulated the nation on this achievement and expressed happiness that India has successfully achieved the goal it had set for itself. Translating the vision of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi into reality, the concerted and joint efforts of the States / UTs and the Central Government catapulted India into a global model for assured comprehensive primary healthcare services.
150,000 Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centers (AB-HWC) fulfills the principles of ‘Antyodaya’ – leaving no one behind and transforms the delivery of comprehensive primary health care services that are universally free and cater to all age groups from birth to death through a 24/7 approach care. By ensuring the reach of health services to the innermost regions of the country through various initiatives, AB-HWC has crossed 8.5 teleconsultations through e-Sanjeevni where nearly 4000 teleconsultations take place daily.
More than 134 million people across the country have benefited from AB-HWC and more than 86.90 million beneficiaries have been cumulatively screened for NCDs, which include 29.95 million for hypertension, 25.56 million for diabetes, 17.44 million for cancer mouth, 27 million for breast cancer and 5.66 million crowns for cervical cancer.
In light of the expansion of AB-HWC, the number of essential medicines has increased to 172 in Primary Health Centers – Health Wellness Center (PHC-HWC) and 105 in Sub Health Centers – Health Wellness Center (SHC-HWC) and basic diagnostics have increased. also expanded to 63 at PHC-HWC and 14 at SHC-HWC. AB-HWCs also include wellness sessions on yoga, zumba, cyclathons, walkathons, and provide guidance on diet, physical activity, positive parenting, tobacco and alcohol cessation, among others, to instill a community wellness mindset.
There are more than 1.60 million crowns have taken place in these centers. In addition, AB-HWC has also commissioned 2-3 centers in the urban sphere under the umbrella of Urban Primary Health Centre-Health and Wellness Center (UPHC-HWC), thereby strengthening ambulatory care and covering a population of 15,000 to 20,000.
