UP to offer specialist services at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs through telemedicine
Prayagraj: The Uttar Pradesh government is set to revamp Ayushman Arogya Mandirs by introducing a hub-and-spoke model to bring specialist consultations, diagnostic services and mental healthcare closer to people living in rural and remote areas.
Under the new system, medical colleges, district hospitals and community health centres will serve as hubs, where specialist doctors will be available. Ayushman Arogya Mandirs at the village and panchayat level will function as spokes, connecting patients with specialists through telemedicine and digital technology.
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As per the news reports, patients visiting an Ayushman Arogya Mandir will initially be examined by a community health officer (CHO). The patient's symptoms and preliminary test reports will then be uploaded to the e-Sanjeevani telemedicine portal.
Specialist doctors at the designated hubs will review the patient's medical information through online video consultations and provide advice and digital prescriptions.
Speaking to TOI, Divisional project manager (National Health Mission) Harit Saxena said Colvin Hospital in Prayagraj has been developed as a hub.
The government is also focusing on improving diagnostic facilities at the village-level centres. Smart testing kits are being provided to Ayushman Arogya Mandirs to reduce the time patients have to wait for pathology tests.
These include dry-biochemistry analysers, which can conduct tests for haemoglobin, important liver and kidney function parameters, and blood sugar levels within around five to 10 minutes. Portable kits have also been introduced to help with the early detection of anaemia and high-risk pregnancies.
The government has also included mental healthcare in the expanded network.
Ayushman Arogya Mandirs have been linked with state-level Tele-MANAS helpline centres, allowing rural residents experiencing stress, depression, insomnia and other mental health concerns to access free and confidential counselling services through their local health centres.
Medical Dialogues had previously reported that the Uttar Pradesh government is taking significant steps to improve healthcare, with its Tele-MANAS mental health helpline providing accessible and reliable psychological support to people throughout the state, official sources said.
Saxena pointed out that there are currently 494 Ayushman Aarogya Mandirs in Prayagraj. Tele-MANAS helpline has been launched in the district, with two numbers — 14416 and 1800 — made available. As of Aug 2026, this service has been utilised by 755 patients suffering from mental health issues, reports TOI.
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