Lok Sabha Question No. 4659 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-20
Subject: A-HWCs in Tamil Nadu
Ministry: AYUSH
Asked by: Dr. Kalanidhi Veeraswamy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AYUSH

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4659 TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.03.2026

## A-HWCs in Tamil Nadu

4659. Dr. Kalanidhi Veeraswamy:

Will the Minister of AYUSH be pleased to state:

(a)  the  total  number  of  AYUSH  Health  and  Wellness  Centres  (A-HWCs)  approved, operational, and functional across the country, State/UT-wise including Tamil Nadu;

(b)  whether  the  Government  has  conducted  any  independent  evaluation  regarding  patient footfall, service utilisation and health outcomes in A-HWCs since their establishment, if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether it is a fact that several A-HWCs are functioning without adequate infrastructure, essential medicines, diagnostic support, and trained manpower, if so, the details thereof;

(d)  the  details  of  the  sanctioned  and  filled  posts  of  AYUSH  Medical  Officers  and  allied health staff in these centres in the country, State/UT-wise;

(e) the details of the total funds allocated, released, and utilised for A-HWCs during the last three years and the current year, year-wise; and

(f) whether the Government proposes to integrate A-HWCs with existing State public health systems to avoid duplication of services and ensure efficient utilisation of public funds and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF AYUSH (SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV)

(a) As per the proposals received from the State/UT Governments, 12500 Ayush Health and Wellness Centres [now known as Ayushman Arogya Mandir (Ayush) or AAM (Ayush)] have been approved across the country including Tamil Nadu, for operationalization by upgrading existing  Ayush  dispensaries  &  Sub  Health  Centres,  under  Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme  of National Ayush Mission (NAM). Further, as reported by the States/UTs, all are operational/functional. The State/UT-wise number of approved & operational AAM (Ayush) are enclosed as Annexure-I .

(b)  Public  Health  being  a  State  subject,  the  primary  responsibility  to  conducting  any evaluation regarding patient footfall, service utilization and health outcomes at Ayush Health

and  Wellness  Centres  in  the  country  including  Tamil  Nadu,  lies  with  the  respective  State Government.  However,  regular  monitoring  &  evaluation  of  the  implementation  of  various activities of National Ayush Mission (NAM) scheme including AAM (Ayush), is done by the Ministry  of  Ayush.  In  this  regard,  field  visits  are  conducted  by  the  central  team  of  the Ministry of Ayush, Regional Review Meetings & One to one meeting with States/UTs are conducted and activity-wise physical/financial progress is also collected on regular interval from the State/UT Governments. Further, as reported by State Government of Tamil Nadu, monitoring and evaluation of AAM (Ayush) are carried out at the district level by the District Siddha  Medical  Officers  and  designated  Nodal  Officers.  They  regularly  review  patient footfall, service utilization and health outcomes to ensure effective implementation.

(c) & (d) Public Health being a State subject, the primary responsibility to ensure availability of adequate infrastructure, supply of essential medicines, diagnostic support, deployment of trained manpower and maintaining record of sanctioned/filled posts at AAM (Ayush) in the country including Tamil Nadu, lies with the respective State/UT Government. As reported by State  Government  of  Tamil  Nadu,  all  AAM  (Ayush)  in  the  State  are  functioning  with adequate infrastructure. These centres are mostly co-located within existing Ayush wings in Government health facilities with dedicated infrastructure. Essential medicines are supplied periodically  based  on  requirement.  Each  centre  is  staffed  with  regular  Assistant  Medical Officers  (Ayush)  and  supported  by  National  Health  Mission  (NHM)/NAM  manpower, ensuring adequate service delivery. Further, State Government of Tamil Nadu has deployed 650 Ayush Medical Officers (Assistant Medical  Officers)  at  650  AAM  (Ayush),  upgraded from Ayush dispensaries in the State.

(e)  Under  Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme  of  National  Ayush  Mission  (NAM),  consolidated funds  are  released  to  the  State/UT  Governments  against  the  proposals  submitted  through State Annual Action Plan (SAAP), as per provisions of the NAM guideline. Funds are not being tied to the specific activity. Accordingly, the year-wise details of the funds released as Central  share  and  utilised  by  the  State  of  Tamil  Nadu  during  the  last  three  years  and  the current year are enclosed as Annexure-II.

(f) As reported by State Government of Tamil Nadu, AAM (Ayush) centres in the State are co-located  within  Government  health  facilities  and  integrated  with  the  State  public  health system.  Services  of  Accredited  Social  Health  Activists  (ASHA),  Auxiliary  Nurse  Midwife (ANM) and Multipurpose Health Workers (MPWs) are utilised through coordination with the Health Department as per the  Memorandum  of  Understanding (MoU)  between  the Departments.  This  ensures  effective  community  outreach,  referral  services  and  integrated healthcare delivery.

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Annexure-I State/UT-wise details of approved and operational Ayushman Arogya Mandir (Ayush)

## under National Ayush Mission:

| S. No.   | Name of States/UTs               |   Number of approved and operational AAM(Ayush) |
|----------|----------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------|
| 1        | Andaman &Nicobar Island          |                                               6 |
| 2        | Andhra Pradesh                   |                                             126 |
| 3        | Arunachal Pradesh                |                                              89 |
| 4        | Assam                            |                                             500 |
| 5        | Bihar                            |                                             294 |
| 6        | Chandigarh                       |                                              12 |
| 7        | Chhattisgarh                     |                                             400 |
| 8        | Delhi                            |                                               0 |
| 9        | Dadra Nagar Haveli and Daman Diu |                                               1 |
| 10       | Goa                              |                                             100 |
| 11       | Gujarat                          |                                             365 |
| 12       | Haryana                          |                                             538 |
| 13       | Himachal Pradesh                 |                                             761 |
| 14       | Jammu &Kashmir                   |                                             523 |
| 15       | Jharkhand                        |                                             745 |
| 16       | Karnataka                        |                                             376 |
| 17       | Kerala                           |                                             700 |
| 18       | Ladakh                           |                                               0 |
| 19       | Lakshadweep                      |                                               7 |
| 20       | Madhya Pradesh                   |                                             800 |
| 21       | Maharashtra                      |                                             390 |
| 22       | Manipur                          |                                              15 |
| 23       | Meghalaya                        |                                              24 |
| 24       | Mizoram                          |                                              41 |
| 25       | Nagaland                         |                                              49 |
| 26       | Odisha                           |                                             422 |
| 27       | Puducherry                       |                                               4 |
| 28       | Punjab                           |                                             158 |
| 29       | Rajasthan                        |                                            2019 |
| 30       | Sikkim                           |                                              18 |
| 31       | Tamil Nadu                       |                                             650 |
| 32       | Telangana                        |                                             421 |
| 33       | Tripura                          |                                              72 |
| 34       | Uttar Pradesh                    |                                            1034 |
| 35       | Uttarakhand                      |                                             300 |
| 36       | West Bengal                      |                                             540 |
| TOTAL    |                                  |                                           12500 |

Annexure-II The year-wise details of the funds released as Central share and utilised by the State of Tamil  Nadu  during  the  last  three  years  and  the  current  year  under  National  Ayush Mission:

|   S. No. | Year    |   Amount released as Central share (Rs. In lakhs) |   Amount utilised (Rs. In lakhs) |
|----------|---------|---------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------|
|        1 | 2022-23 |                                           2428.69 |                          2125.68 |
|        2 | 2023-24 |                                           6635.76 |                          6431.24 |
|        3 | 2024-25 |                                           7380.32 |                          5551.27 |
|        4 | 2025-26 |                                           1995.22 |                          1995.22 |