Union Health Secretary directs weekly yoga sessions at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs in Delhi

New Delhi: Highlighting the importance of preventive and promotive healthcare, Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava on Thursday directed officials to organise weekly yoga and wellness sessions at all Ayushman Arogya Mandirs and generate digital health IDs for children while reviewing the functioning of three such facilities in the national capital.

Srivastava visited the Ayushman Arogya Mandir-Urban Primary Health Centre at Babar Road and the Department of Trade and Taxes at Vyapar Bhawan in IP Estate, as well as the Urban Sub Health Centre at Golf Links to review the delivery of comprehensive primary healthcare services, PTI reported.

During the visit, she appreciated the functioning of the facilities and the efforts of healthcare personnel in providing accessible, affordable and quality primary healthcare, according to a statement issued by the health ministry. 

She also appreciated the screening of non-communicable diseases, including hypertension and diabetes, and stressed the importance of regular screening, timely treatment and follow-up care to prevent complications and improve long-term health outcomes.

The secretary also appreciated the availability of 12 essential laboratory tests at the centres, noting that access to diagnostics at the primary healthcare level can facilitate early detection and timely treatment and reduce the need for patients to visit higher healthcare facilities for routine investigations, the statement said.

Srivastava directed officials to ensure that regular yoga and wellness sessions are organised at all Ayushman Arogya Mandirs on a fixed day every week.

The sessions are aimed at encouraging community participation and promoting physical and mental well-being, physical activity, balanced nutrition and other healthy lifestyle practices.

Srivastava also directed that the generation of Baal Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) IDs for children be incorporated into routine service delivery at the facilities, the statement said.

The initiative will facilitate digital health identification of children and support continuity of care through digitally accessible health records, the ministry said.

She also directed that the process of assessment and certification under the National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS) be initiated for Urban Sub Health Centres functioning under the National Urban Health Mission.

She emphasised that adherence to established quality standards was essential to ensure safe, reliable and patient-friendly healthcare services.

The NQAS assessment and certification of Urban Sub Health Centres would help strengthen quality assurance mechanisms, encourage continuous improvement and promote standardised healthcare delivery across urban primary healthcare facilities, she said.

During the visit, Srivastava also reviewed the implementation of ongoing healthcare initiatives and discussed measures to strengthen coordination, service integration and efficiency in healthcare delivery at the Ayushman Arogya Mandirs.

She acknowledged the efforts of the Delhi State Health Mission and facility-level healthcare teams and stressed sustained coordination between the Union Health Ministry, the State Health Mission and healthcare institutions to further improve primary healthcare delivery, the statement said.

Ayushman Arogya Mandirs are a key component of the government's efforts to strengthen comprehensive primary healthcare, with services spanning preventive, promotive, curative, rehabilitative and palliative care.

The centres focus on disease prevention, early detection, essential diagnostics, management of common illnesses and community wellness, with the aim of improving access to healthcare, particularly for vulnerable and underserved populations.