Primary health centres to be upgraded, says Parmar

Tribune News Service

Shimla, December 18

Health and Family Welfare and Ayurveda Minister Vipin Singh Parmar on Tuesday said all primary health centres (PHCs) and health sub-centres would be upgraded as health wellness centres by 2022 in a phased manner. As many as 132 PHCs and sub-centres will be upgraded as wellness centres this year, he added.

Presiding over a state-level orientation workshop organised to operationalise “health and wellness centres” for comprehensive primary healthcare under the Ayushman Bharat Scheme, Parmar said primary healthcare and national health protection scheme were two pillars of the Ayushman Bharat Scheme to achieve the goal of “universal health coverage”.

He said the wellness centres would prevent many ailments, which included non-communicable diseases, reducing the need for secondary and tertiary care.

Parmar said more than 21 lakh people of the state had come under the health insurance cover of Rs 5 lakh under Ayushman Bharat Scheme and Him Care with an aim of providing social security and health protection cover to 50 crore people of the country by introducing the Jan Agogya Yojana.

Parmar said the wellness centres had been established in Samot and Sundla of Chamba district and this scheme would be fully operationalised in the state soon. The shortage of doctors was being addressed by appointing over 350 doctors through walk-in interview.

Dr Rajani Vaidy Executive Director, NHSRC, said the concept of wellness centres would solve the problem of excessive burden and pressure on district hospitals and medical colleges besides reducing the cost of treatment.

She stressed the need to give yoga a suitable place at the wellness centres. The para-medical staff, Asha workers, including doctors, needed to be trained for smooth and better operation of the centres, she added.

Nipun Jindal, Special Secretary, Health, said the priority of the state government was to ensure accessibility and affordability of health needs to all the people.

Dr Garima Gupta, Adviser to the NHSRC, Central Government, also shared information and suggestion from the health officials for the wellness centres on this occasion.

Man Mohan Sharma, Director, National Health Mission, highlighted the implementation of the wellness centres in the state. The Nodal Officer of the state wellness centre, Dr PC Dharoch, presented vote of thanks.