A total of 1,75,418 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs) have been established and operationalised, till December 10, by transforming existing Sub-Health Centres (SHC) and Primary Health Centres (PHC) in rural and urban areas, the Lok Sabha was informed on Friday.

“The purpose of AAMs are to deliver the expanded range of comprehensive primary healthcare services that includes preventive, promotive, curative, palliative and rehabilitative services encompassing reproductive and child care services, communicable diseases, non-communicable diseases and all health issues, which are universal, free, and closer to the community,” Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Anupriya Patel stated this in a written reply.

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The Central Government has taken several initiatives to supplement the efforts of the states to provide quality and affordable healthcare services to the people and reduce the Out-of-Pocket Expenditure (OOPE). Under the National Health Mission, the Government has taken many steps towards universal health coverage, by supporting the State Governments in providing accessible and affordable healthcare to people.

The National Health Mission provides support for improvement in health infrastructure, availability of adequate human resources to manage health facilities, to improve availability and accessibility to quality healthcare, especially for the underserved and marginalised groups in rural areas.

In this regard, the Government has launched mission mode projects, namely Pradhan Mantri -Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM), Ayushman Aarogya Mandir (erstwhile AB-HWC) and Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY).

PM-ABHIM was launched as a mission to develop the capacities of primary, secondary, and tertiary health care systems; strengthen existing national institutions, and create new institutions to cater to the detection and cure of new and emerging diseases.

PM-ABHIM is a Centrally-Sponsored Scheme with some Central Sector components with an outlay of Rs 64,180 crore.

Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) provides health cover of Rs 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation to approximately 55 crore beneficiaries corresponding to 12.37 crore families, constituting the bottom 40 per cent of India’s population.

The Central Government has also recently approved health coverage for all senior citizens of age 70 years and above irrespective of their income under PM-JAY.

National Free Drugs Service initiative and Free Diagnostic Service has been rolled out to ensure the availability of essential drugs and diagnostic facilities and reduce out-of-pocket expenditure of the patients visiting public health facilities.

Besides, quality generic medicines are made available at affordable prices to all under Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) in collaboration with the State Governments. Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment (AMRIT) Pharmacy stores have been set up in some hospitals/institutions.

As per National Health Accounts Estimates 2021-22, the Out-of-Pocket Expenditure (OOPE) as a percentage of Total Health Expenditure (THE) is 39.4 per cent. OOPE on health as a percentage of THE in the country for the year 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21, and 2021-22 are 48.8 per cent, 48.2 per cent, 47.1 per cent, 44.4 per cent, and 39.4 per cent respectively and therefore there is a declining trend in OOPE as a percentage of THE.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) has taken up with States to prioritise allocation to the health sector and enhance their health budgets by at least 10 per cent every year. The budget allocation for the Department of Health & Family Welfare (DoHFW) has increased by 85 per cent from Rs 47,353 crore in 2017-18 (BE) to Rs 87,657 crore in 2024-25 (BE). Further, the 15th Finance Commission provided Rs 70,051 crore Grants for health through the local Governments.