Lok Sabha Question No. 17 (STARRED), answered on 2024-02-02
Subject: Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Ganesan Selvam, Dhanush M Kumar

## GOVERNMENT OFINDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE

## LOKSABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. 17

## TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 2 ND FEBRUARY, 2024

## AYUSHMAN BHARAT HEALTH AND WELLNESS CENTRES

## *17. SHRI SELVAM G.: SHRI DHANUSH M. KUMAR:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres functional in the country;
- (b) whether the Government has been unsuccessful in providing better health facilities in the rural areas across the country through National Rural Health Mission (NRHM);
- (c) if so, the details thereof including the reasons therefor; and
- (d) the other steps taken by the Government to provide quality health facilities in the rural/remote areas of the country?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (DR MANSUKH MANDAVIYA)

- (a) to ( d) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 17 FOR 2 ND FEBRUARY, 2024

(a): A total of 1,64,043 Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres (AB-HWCs) now renamed as Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs)] have been established and operationalized in India (till 15.01.2024).

(b) to (d): No, Sir. The Government has taken several initiatives and has been successful in providing better health facility in rural areas across the country through National Rural Health Mission now known as National Health Mission. Under National Health Mission (NHM), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare provides technical and financial support to the States/UTs to strengthen the public healthcare system. Support under NHM is provided to supplement the efforts of the State/UT governments, based on their requirements. Such support includes improvement in health infrastructure, availability of adequate human resources in health facilities, availability of drugs & diagnostics and technical support for various programs under NHM.

The Government has launched four mission mode projects, namely PM-Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM), Ayushman Arogya Mandir (AAM) erstwhile Ayushman Bharat Health & Wellness Centres (AB-HWCs), Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) and Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM).

PM-Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) was launched by Hon'ble Prime Minister of India with an outlay of Rs.64,180 crore. The measures under the PM-ABHIM focus on developing capacities of health systems and institutions across the continuum of care at all levels, primary, secondary and tertiary, to prepare health systems in responding effectively to the current and future pandemics /disasters. In addition, the Fifteenth Finance Commission (FC-XV) has recommended grants through local governments for specific components of the health sector to the tune of Rs 70,051 crores. These grants for health through Local Governments will be spread over the five-year period from FY 2021-22 to FY 2025-26 and will facilitate strengthening of health system at the grass-root level.

Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana provides financial protection to deprived rural families and identified occupational categories of urban workers' families. As per PMJAY dashboard, as on 30.01.2024, 30.82 cr. Ayushman Cards have been created for such beneficiaries. It offers a benefit cover of Rs. 5,00,000 per family per year (on a family floater basis). Services include a range of procedures covering all the costs related to treatment, including drugs, supplies, diagnostic services, physician's fees, room charges, surgeon charges, OT and ICU charges etc.

The support provided under NHM interalia includes support for engaging of health human resource on contractual basis, National Ambulance Services, Mobile Medical Units, ASHAs, Infrastructure strengthening, creation of AAMs by transforming the existing Sub Centres and Primary Health Centres, 24 x 7 Services and First Referral facilities, Mera Aspataal, Kayakalp Award Scheme, Prime Minister ' s National Dialysis Programme, National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme, National Quality Assurance Standards implementation and related Activities, LaQshya Certification, Biomedical Equipment Maintenance and Management Programme, Free Diagnostics Service Initiative, Free Drugs Service Initiative and screening for non-communicable diseases like hypertension, diabetes, cervical cancer, etc. Further, initiatives such as Mission Parivar Vikas, Adolescent Friendly Health Clinics (AFHCs), Weekly Iron Folic Acid Supplementation (WIFS), Menstrual Hygiene Scheme, Facility Based Newborn Care (FBNC), Home Based Newborn Care Program, Social Awareness and Actions to Neutralize Pneumonia Successfully (SAANS), Home Based Care for Young Child (HBYC), Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK), Early Childhood Development (ECD), Comprehensive Abortion Care (CAC), Anemia Mukt Bharat (AMB) strategy, Nutrition Rehabilitation Centre (NRC) program are supported to increase access to quality healthcare services. Support is also provided to strengthen Universal Immunization programme.

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