Over 50,000 Ayushman Bharat Centres Established In India Amidst Covid-19 Pandemic: Dr Harsh Vardhan

India’s flagship healthcare program ‘Ayushman Bharat’ spread its wings extensively amidst the Covid-19 pandemic.

Livemint reports that 50,025 Health and Wellness Centres (AB-HWC) under the scheme have been made functional across 678 districts. Furthermore, the Union Health Ministry has declared that such 1.5 lakh AB-HWCs will be instituted by December 2022 to provide comprehensive primary healthcare services (CPHS) to the citizens.

“With more than 50,000 [centres] having been established, one third of the target has been met. This has led to improved access to affordable primary healthcare services for more than 25 crore people,” Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan mentioned. 27,890 sub-health centres, 18,536 primary health centres and 3,599 urban primary health centres are comprised in these 50,025 AB-HWCs.

The establishments have seen a footfall of 28.10 crore people as the government detailed about the services availed by the citizens so far. 5.23 crore and 6.14 crore individuals have undergone screenings for diabetes and cancer respectively.

Free drugs for treatment of hypertension has been provided to one crore people as 6.43 crore inhabitants have been screened for it. About 60 lakh people have been given medications without cost for diabetes as almost 53% of folks who have accessed the centres are women.

“This has been possible due to the joint efforts of the Centre and the states/UTs in planning, monitoring at all levels, standardization of processes, the flexibility for adaptation provided to the states/UTs, and building on the health systems created thus far,” the Union Minister added.