(Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya YojanaAyushman Arogya Mandir is transforming India’s primary healthcare system by providing free, comprehensive and accessible health services. Better diagnostics and wellness programs across rural and urban regions through Digital teleconferencing
In a major step towards making accessible and inclusive healthcare facilities available to all citizens, the Government of India has functionalized over 1.78 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs) in the country. These were earlier referred as Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres (AB-HWCs) and intended to be the cornerstone of India primary healthcare system. The launch of this scheme addresses not only medical treatment but also a holistic approach to wellness, prevention, diagnostics and digital healthcare. Ayushman Arogya Mandirs are not just clinics. They are people’s first step towards a healthier tomorrow.
Ayushman Arogya Mandirs
Ayushman Arogya Mandirs are comprehensive primary healthcare centres established by upgrading existing Sub Health Centres (SHCs) and Primary Health Centres (PHCs) under the Ayushman Bharat initiative. These centres provide 12 integrated service packages of preventive, promotive, curative, rehabilitative and palliative care for communicable and non-communicable diseases.
In the Parliamentary session, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Shri Prataprao Jadhav stated that till July 15, 2025, the total number of AAM operationalised in the country is 1,78,154. These centres not only focuses on treatment but also promotes wellness through initiatives such as yoga, meditation and lifestyle counselling. The initiative is guided by the principle of bringing healthcare “closer to the homes of people”.
India has traditionally suffered from unequal distribution of health infrastructure and manpower, especially in rural and remote regions. The National Health Policy (2017) became the seed for fortifying primary healthcare with its recommendation of using two-thirds of the health budget on preventive and promotive health. This became further cemented through the Ayushman Bharat Programme, which had two limbs:
1. Health and Wellness Centres (recently rechristened as Ayushman Arogya Mandirs) for holistic primary care.
2. PM-JAY ) for secondary and tertiary care financial protection.
The transformation of HWCs into AAMs in 2025 was part of a larger vision to unify and brand India’s frontline health services under a name that emphasizes both “Ayushman” (long life) and “Arogya” (health). As said by PM Shri Narendra Modi that “With Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, we are transforming every village and town into a centre of health and wellness. This is a new dawn for healthcare delivery in India.”
Services Offered at AAMs
Each AAM is equipped to deliver a broad set of primary healthcare services, with trained staff, IT systems, diagnostics and drugs. These centres offer twelve defined packages of primary health care services. The primary healthcare teams stationed at these Mandirs are trained to ensure that quality services are delivered efficiently to the population at the grassroots level. This initiative reflects the government’s intention to prioritize local, accessible and integrated healthcare as a foundation of the country’s health system. These services are made available free of cost, marking a major step in reducing out-of-pocket expenditure in rural and underserved populations.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare launched the Free Diagnostics Service Initiative (FDSI) under the National Health Mission (NHM) in 2015. The aim of FDSI is to ensure that an expanded range of diagnostic services is available free of cost at all levels of public health facilities. This includes 14 diagnostic tests at Sub Centres and 63 tests at Primary Health Centres. By offering free and accessible diagnostics, the programme reduces the financial burden on patients and promotes early detection and effective management of diseases.
Wellness as a Way of Life
Recognizing that healthcare is not limited to the treatment of illnesses, AAM also focus extensively on promotive and preventive health. These centres conduct wellness-related activities like yoga, cycling and meditation to promote healthier lifestyles. Up to 30 June 2025, over 5.73 crore wellness sessions have been organized at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs. This incorporation of wellness activities into primary health infrastructure is a crucial milestone towards countrywide holistic healthcare delivery. Union Health Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya said that “Preventive health is our first line of defense. These wellness sessions are
Digital Health: Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM)
Another key innovation integrated into AAMs is the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM). This platform enables the creation of ABHA IDs (Ayushman Bharat Health Accounts). Seamless Electronic Health Records (EHRs). Interoperability across public and private hospitals. As of now, 79.75 crore ABHA IDs have been created and 65.34 crore EHRs have been linked across national health portals. These ID cards and data maintenance will help country to improve healthcare services.
Transforming Rural Healthcare through Functional Infrastructure
The estimated cost for the establishment and maintenance of a centre of Ayushman Arogya Mandir is ₹17.03 lakh including both one-time and annual maintenance costs. This funding is routed through the NHM Record of Proceedings (ROP) based on the Program Implementation Plan (PIP) submitted by respective States and Union Territories. To ensure quality the Arogya mandir, it has to be upgraded with essential drug supply, Point-of-care diagnostic tools, IT-enabled systems and trained primary health teams
The impact of Arogya mandir is particularly focused to rural and underserved areas. With more than 70% of India’s population living in rural environment, this program will shift of burden of primary healthcare (PHC) to Arogya Mandir thus reducing the dependency on CHC’s and urban health facilities.
States like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh have reported a substantial increase in patient footfall and preventive screenings due to available facilities in these centres. The integration of digital health tools has helped in monitoring public health trends and facilitating telemedicine consultations where physical access is limited.
Challenges and the Road Ahead
While the AAM scheme is far-reaching and ambitious, there are the perennial challenges so government is going to cover the deficit of trained staff in remote regions. Challenges in Supply chain bottlenecks of essential medicines to the remote place. Network problems and sluggish digital uptake of employees in some regions. National Health Mission, along with States/UTs support, works relentlessly in covering these gaps. Public-private collaborations and health worker capacity-building initiatives are already in place to enhance implementation.
The Ayushman Arogya Mandir programme heralds a paradigm change in Indias strategy in healthcare. It recognizes that healthcare goes beyond curing disease but ensuring sustained well-being, preventing illness and enabling citizens with information and access. With particular focus on affordability, access and digital ingenuity the AAMs are becoming hope silos for millions of Indians in quest of dignified and prompt healthcare.
As India moving faster towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC), schemes like Ayushman Arogya Mandirs serve as foundational blocks for redefining healthcare services in India. How health care is delivered, consumed and experienced across the country, can become the case study for developing Nations with population growth.
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