New Delhi: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) on December 30 mentioned, “In what is being said to be a landmark achievement of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Government, India has surpassed 1,50,000 operational Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres (AB-HWCs) before December 31”.
Ayushman Bharat attempts to move from a selective approach to health care to deliver comprehensive services spanning preventive, promotive, curative, rehabilitative and palliative care.
As per the website of AB-HWC, currently, India has 153,530 functional Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness in the country.
Ayushman Bharat wellness centres aim to provide Comprehensive Primary Health Care (CPHC), by expanding and strengthening the existing Reproductive & Child Health (RCH) and Communicable Diseases services and by including services related to Non-Communicable Diseases (common NCDs such as Hypertension, Diabetes.
Also, three common cancers of Oral, Breast and Cervix) and incrementally adding primary healthcare services for mental health, ENT, Ophthalmology, Oral health, Geriatric and Palliative care and Trauma care, as well as health promotion and wellness activities like yoga are included.
The Union Health minister Mansukh Mandaviya mentioned in his tweet, “PM Narendra Modi had set a target of starting 1.5 lakh AB-HWCs in the country by December 2022. I am happy to inform you that today we have achieved this target. These centres will definitely strengthen the primary health care of the citizens.”
https://twitter.com/mansukhmandviya/status/1608410799592308740
A post on the BJP’s official Twitter handle read, “Delivered, what said? Achieving the set target, 1, 50,000 Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centers became functional in the country.”
Applauding the efforts of the nation in accomplishing this feat before the set deadline, saying that these centres will strive to provide citizens easy access and primary healthcare facilities, mentioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“Fulfilling the principles of ‘Antyoday’- leaving no one behind, 150,000 Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres (AB-HWCs) are transforming the delivery of comprehensive primary health care services which are universally free and cater to all age groups from birth to death, through a continuum of care approach.
Ensuring the reach of healthcare services to the innermost regions of the nation through various initiatives, AB-HWCs have surpassed 8.5 teleconsultations via e-Sanjeevni, where nearly 4 lakh teleconsultations take place daily.”
Further it added “More than 86.90 crore beneficiaries have been cumulatively screened for non-communicable diseases which include 29.95 Crore for Hypertension, 25.56 Crore for Diabetes, 17.44 Crore for Oral cancer, 8.27 Crore for Breast Cancer and 5.66 Crore for Cervical Cancer.”
As per the Health ministry, the number of essential medicines has increased to 172 at Primary Health Centres – Health Wellness Centres (PHC-HWC) and 105 at Sub Health Centres – Health Wellness Centres (SHC-HWC), while essential diagnostics have also expanded to 63 at PHC-HWC and 14 at SHC-HWC are already increased in the light of expansion.
In the interest of the well-being of society, the AB-HWCs also hold wellness sessions on Yoga, Zumba, Cyclathons, and Walkathons while laying down guidelines on diet, physical activity, positive parenting, and tobacco and alcohol cessation.
More than 1.60 crore wellness sessions have been conducted at these centres.
Notably, AB-HWCs have also operationalized 2-3 centres in the urban sphere under the umbrella of Urban Primary Health Centre-Health and Wellness Centre (UPHC-HWC), strengthening outpatient care and covering a population of 15,000 to 20,000.
(With further inputs from ANI)
