Ayushman Bharat – Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs)
Current Affairs & Government Schemes › Health and Nutrition Schemes · Topic 4.2
Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres (AB-HWCs) were upgraded sub-health centres and primary health centres meant to deliver comprehensive primary health care close to the home. They were announced in Union Budget 2018-19, and the first centre was opened on 14 April 2018 at Bijapur in Chhattisgarh. The target of 1.5 lakh centres was met by December 2022, and in 2023 the centres were renamed Ayushman Arogya Mandir. They go beyond maternal and child care to cover non-communicable diseases, mental health, oral and eye care and teleconsultation, under the National Health Mission. About 1.8 lakh were operational by late 2025, as reported.
6 min read · UPSC Prelims · Current Affairs & Government Schemes · Health and Nutrition Schemes
At a Glance
- Announced Union Budget 2018-19
- First centre 14 April 2018, Bijapur
- Target 1.5 lakh centres by December 2022
- Present name Ayushman Arogya Mandir
- Run under National Health Mission
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Current Affairs and Government Schemes: Health and Nutrition Schemes
Where Does It Fit?
This is the second topic of the macro on health and nutrition. It is the primary care pillar of Ayushman Bharat and works alongside the insurance pillar covered in the previous topic. Previous topic: Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY). Next topic: Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM).
What Services Do the Centres Provide?
| Service package | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Maternal health | Antenatal and postnatal care, with referral for institutional delivery |
| Newborn and child health | Immunisation, growth monitoring and care of common childhood illness |
| Adolescent health | Counselling, menstrual hygiene and nutrition services |
| Communicable diseases | Screening and treatment support for tuberculosis, malaria, leprosy and others |
| Non-communicable diseases | Population based screening for hypertension, diabetes and common cancers such as oral, breast and cervical |
| Mental health | Basic screening and care for common mental disorders |
| Eye, ENT and oral care | Basic screening and care, added to the original package |
| Elderly and palliative care | Care for the elderly and basic palliative support |
| Emergency and trauma | First aid for common emergencies and minor injuries |
| Free drugs and diagnostics | Essential medicines and a set of basic tests at no cost |
How Are the Centres Staffed and Run?
- Sub-health centres: a sub-health centre is upgraded and is run by a Mid-Level Health Provider, a nurse or Ayurveda practitioner trained through a bridge course in community health
- Mid-Level Health Provider: the cadre was created to deliver primary care where doctors are absent, working with the Auxiliary Nurse Midwife and ASHA workers
- Primary health centres: these are upgraded with a medical officer, a nurse and a wider range of tests, and serve as the first referral point
- Urban centres: urban primary health centres and urban health and wellness centres are included, funded through the National Urban Health Mission component
- Teleconsultation: centres are linked to the e-Sanjeevani platform so a patient can speak to a doctor at a hub
- Population enumeration: a family folder and a population enumeration are kept so that screening can be tracked for every person above 30 years
- Wellness activities: yoga sessions, health camps and Health Days are held at the centres to promote healthy habits
- Funding: the centres are funded through the National Health Mission and, for infrastructure, from the Fifteenth Finance Commission health grants to local bodies
What Else Should You Remember?
- Policy base: the centres put into practice the comprehensive primary health care approach of the National Health Policy 2017, which promised to raise primary care spending to two thirds of health outlay
- Alma-Ata link: the approach is rooted in the 1978 Declaration of Alma-Ata and the Astana Declaration of 2018 on primary health care
- Two pillars: Ayushman Bharat has two pillars, the centres for primary care and PM-JAY for hospital care, as in Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY)
- Digital link: patients at the centres are given ABHA numbers so that their records travel with them, as in Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM)
- Rename: the Health Ministry renamed the centres Ayushman Arogya Mandir in December 2023, with a common branding to make them easy to spot
- Scale: as reported by the Health Ministry, about 1.82 lakh centres were operational by November 2025 and the conversion of nearly all centres was reported as complete in 2026
- Footfall: the Ministry has reported hundreds of crores of visits to the centres since 2018, though counts include repeat visits and wellness sessions
- NCD screening: the population based screening campaign for hypertension and diabetes uses the centres as its base
- Gaps: studies and parliamentary reports note vacancies of Mid-Level Health Providers, drug stock-outs and weak diagnostics in some states
- Quality check: the National Quality Assurance Standards are used to certify the centres, and a number of them have been certified
- Convergence: the centres work with Anganwadi centres, Village Health Sanitation and Nutrition Committees and Panchayati Raj bodies
- Link to NHM: the programme is a flagship activity of the mission, as in National Health Mission (NHM)
Why Does It Matter for the Exam?
- Dates: announced in Budget 2018-19, first centre on 14 April 2018
- Target: 1.5 lakh centres by December 2022
- Cadre: Mid-Level Health Provider heads a sub-health centre
- Renamed: Ayushman Arogya Mandir from December 2023
- Traps: the centres are for primary care, while PM-JAY covers hospital care
As an analytical point, strong primary care is the cheapest way to cut avoidable hospital use and out-of-pocket costs. The centres will deliver on their promise only when staff, medicines and diagnostics are in place, and when communities trust them.
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Facts Dates, targets, cadre
- Policy Primary care and universal coverage
- Mains Quality versus numbers
What Came Next?
The next topic covers the digital health pillar. Next topic: Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM).
Key People and Terms
- AB-HWC Primary care centre
- AAM New name
- MLHP Mid-level provider
- CPHC Comprehensive primary health care
- e-Sanjeevani Telemedicine service
- ASHA Community health activist
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- Opened: 14 April 2018, Bijapur.
- Target: 1.5 lakh centres by Dec 2022.
- Rename: Ayushman Arogya Mandir.
- Head: Mid-Level Health Provider.
- Part of: Ayushman Bharat, primary pillar.
Do Not Confuse With
- Health and Wellness Centres and PM-JAY Primary care versus hospital cover
- Health and Wellness Centres and Anganwadi centres Health services versus nutrition and early learning
- Sub-health centre and primary health centre Village level unit versus a larger unit with a doctor
Memory Hook
Upgrade the village centre, add a mid-level provider, and care starts at the doorstep.
Mains Angle
Questions ask whether primary care can reduce the burden on hospitals. These points give a frame.
- Aim Care near home and prevention
- Gaps Staff, drugs and diagnostics
- Way Fill posts and track quality
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“Discuss the role of Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres in strengthening primary health care in India.”
How to Answer
- Intro State the 2018 launch and the comprehensive care idea.
- Role Screening, NCDs, referral and wellness.
- Gaps Staffing, drugs, uneven quality.
- Way Fill posts, supply chains and community trust.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres?
They are upgraded sub-health centres and primary health centres that provide comprehensive primary health care, including screening for non-communicable diseases, mental health, and eye and oral care. The first one opened on 14 April 2018 at Bijapur in Chhattisgarh, and they are now called Ayushman Arogya Mandir.
What was the target for Health and Wellness Centres?
The target was to operationalise 1.5 lakh Health and Wellness Centres by December 2022. The Health Ministry reported that the target was met on schedule, and the number has since risen to about 1.8 lakh centres as reported by the Ministry in 2025.
Who runs a sub-health centre upgraded to a Health and Wellness Centre?
A Mid-Level Health Provider, who is a trained nurse or Ayurveda practitioner with a bridge course in community health, heads the upgraded sub-health centre. The provider works with an Auxiliary Nurse Midwife, a multipurpose health worker and ASHA workers to deliver the wider package.
Why were the centres renamed Ayushman Arogya Mandir?
The Health Ministry renamed the centres Ayushman Arogya Mandir in December 2023 to give them a common identity across the country, so that people can recognise them easily. The services stayed the same. The rename also aimed at improving community ownership and awareness of what the centres provide.
How do the centres relate to PM-JAY?
Ayushman Bharat has two pillars. The centres provide primary care close to home, while PM-JAY provides a cover of Rs 5 lakh for hospital care. Together they aim to cover prevention, treatment and referral, and reduce the cost families bear for illness.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 The first Health and Wellness Centre was opened in Chhattisgarh in April 2018.
It opened at Bijapur on 14 April 2018.
2 The target of 1.5 lakh centres was meant for December 2022.
The Ministry reported the target was met.
3 A sub-health centre upgraded to a wellness centre is headed by a Mid-Level Health Provider.
A nurse or Ayurveda practitioner with a bridge course.
4 Health and Wellness Centres provide the Rs 5 lakh hospital cover.
That is PM-JAY, the other pillar.
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