The Government of India periodically reviews existing health benefit packages under Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) to ensure they remain aligned with clinical evidence, stakeholder feedback, and the evolving healthcare needs of the population. As part of these efforts, the most recent revision of the Health Package Master now includes 1,961 procedures across 27 medical specialties.

The Government has established a robust framework to ensure the quality of treatment and services provided by empanelled private hospitals. These mechanisms focus on regulatory oversight, standardization, audits, and performance-based incentives to uphold the standards of care.

Hospitals are empanelled based on well-defined minimum criteria, which include infrastructure, manpower, and the range of services offered. To promote and reward quality, empanelled hospitals with certifications such as NABH (National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers) or NQAS (National Quality Assurance Standards) receive incentives above the base package rates. Moreover, all empanelled hospitals are mandated to adhere to Standard Treatment Guidelines (STGs), ensuring uniformity and consistency in treatment protocols across the country. These measures reflect the Government's continued commitment to providing accessible, affordable, and high-quality healthcare to all citizens under AB PM-JAY.

In February 2018, the Government of India announced the establishment of 1,50,000 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs), erstwhile Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres (AB-HWCs), across the country by December 2022.  A total of 1,77,906 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs have been established and operationalized as of 30^th June 2025. These have been created by transforming existing Sub-Health Centres (SHCs) and Primary Health Centres (PHCs) in both rural and urban areas.

These Ayushman Arogya Mandirs provide preventive, promotive, rehabilitative, and curative care for an expanded range of services. These include reproductive and child healthcare services, communicable and non-communicable diseases, and a wide array of other health concerns.

For SHC-AAMs, the operational guidelines provide for a Community Health Officer (CHO), an Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM), a Multipurpose Worker - Male, along with ASHAs in the catchment area. For PHC-AAMs, the prescribed norms include a Medical Officer, staff nurses, a pharmacist, Health Assistants, and a lab technician.

Under the Free Drugs and Free Diagnostics Service Initiative, the Government provides financial support to States and UTs to ensure availability of essential medicines and diagnostics. At the SHC-AAM level, support is extended for 106 drugs and 14 diagnostic tests, while at the PHC-AAM level, support covers 172 drugs and 63 diagnostic tests.

To encourage doctors to serve in rural and remote areas, the National Health Mission (NHM) offers various incentives and honorarium:

• Hard area allowance for specialist doctors, including provision of residential quarters in remote areas to make public health service more attractive.
• Negotiable salaries through flexible strategies such as “You Quote, We Pay” to attract specialists.
• Non-monetary incentives, including preferential admission to postgraduate courses for those serving in difficult areas and improved accommodation facilities in rural locations.
• Multi-skilling and skill upgradation of doctors and healthcare workers under NHM and National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) to address the shortage of specialists and enhance healthcare delivery.

These initiatives collectively aim to improve access, availability, and quality of healthcare services, particularly in underserved areas, reinforcing the Government’s commitment to strengthening primary healthcare across the nation.

Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Shri Prataprao Jadhav stated this in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.

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HFW/Initiatives to improve access, availability, and quality of healthcare services/22 July 2025/4

 

(Release ID: 2146814)