Over 20,000 Health and Wellness centres established across nation

New Delhi: In a major boost to the primary and preventive healthcare sector, the Central government has built at least 20,942 Ayushman Bharat- Health and Wellness Centres (AB-HWCs) across the nation in the past one year.

These Health and Wellness Centres are a part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's flagship health insurance scheme -- Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY).

It is based on the twin objective of providing primary healthcare to the people that include preventive healthcare and health promotion at the community level with a continuum of care approach for all.

"The target is to transform 1,50,000 Sub-Health Centres and Primary Health Centres (PHC) into AB-HWCs by December 2022. As on date, 12th September 2019, 20,942 AB-HWCs have been made operational across the country. The progress is good so far," said a senior official at the Union Health Ministry.

The AB-HWCs provides treatment for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) including universal screening and management of 30 plus population for common NCDs, palliative and rehabilitative care, Oral, Eye, and ENT care, mental health and first-level care for emergencies and trauma. It also offers health promotion and wellness activities like Yoga apart from services already being provided for Maternal and Child Health including immunization, and communicable diseases.