Update on AAMs

1. At a Glance

• Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs) are upgraded Sub-Health Centres (SHCs) and Primary Health Centres (PHCs) that deliver Comprehensive Primary Health Care (CPHC) — the first pillar of Ayushman Bharat (2018) [1][2].
• Renamed from Ayushman Bharat – Health and Wellness Centres (AB-HWCs) to Ayushman Arogya Mandir in 2023, with tagline "Arogyam Parmam Dhanam" [2][3].
• Significance for UPSC: Flagship vehicle for Universal Health Coverage (UHC); touches SDG-3, Centre–State health federalism, NCD burden, and tribal/aspirational district equity [1][2].

2. Why in the News

• PIB release dated 03 Feb 2026: 1,82,944 AAMs operationalized as on 31.12.2025, against the original Feb-2018 target of 1,50,000 by Dec 2022 [1][3].
• Expanded service basket: 172 drugs & 63 diagnostics at PHC-AAMs, and 106 drugs & 14 diagnostics at SHC-AAMs [1].
• 30,817 AAMs in Tribal Districts and 24,327 AAMs in Aspirational Districts operationalized [1].

3. Background & Evolution

• Feb 2018: Union Budget announces Ayushman Bharat with two pillars — (i) HWCs and (ii) PM-JAY [3].
• 14 Apr 2018: First HWC inaugurated at Jangla, Bijapur (Chhattisgarh) by PM (commonly cited milestone) [3].
• Target: 1.5 lakh HWCs by Dec 2022 by upgrading 1.5 lakh SHCs + PHCs [3].
• Nov 2023: Cabinet approves rebranding to "Ayushman Arogya Mandir" with standardized branding/tagline [2].
• 15 Dec 2023: 1,63,402 AAMs operationalized [2].
• 31 Oct 2025: 1,80,906 AAMs [3].
• 31 Dec 2025: 1,82,944 AAMs [1].

4. Core Static Facts

• Implementing Ministry: Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW); AYUSH-AAMs are under Ministry of AYUSH [1][4].
• Parent scheme: Ayushman Bharat (one of two pillars; other is PM-JAY) [3].
• Funding: Through National Health Mission (NHM); Centre:State share generally 60:40 (90:10 for NE/Hill States) [3].
• Service basket: 12 packages of CPHC — RCH, communicable diseases, NCDs, mental health (epilepsy, dementia, substance use), palliative & elderly care, oral health, ENT, ophthalmic, basic emergency, etc. [1][3].
• Coverage type: services are universal, free, and close to community [3].
• Drugs/Diagnostics: PHC-AAM = 172 drugs + 63 diagnostics; SHC-AAM = 106 drugs + 14 diagnostics [1].
• Workforce: SHC-AAMs led by Community Health Officer (CHO) — typically a B.Sc. Nursing/Ayurveda graduate with 6-month bridge course in CPHC [3].

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

Social / Equity

• Disproportionate scale-up in Tribal (30,817) and Aspirational (24,327) districts addresses geographic health inequity [1].
• Free essential drugs and diagnostics reduce catastrophic out-of-pocket expenditure [1].

Administrative / Federal

• Implemented via States/UTs through NHM; progress tracked on the AAM Portal (real-time reporting) [1].
• Convergence with AYUSH ministry for AYUSH-AAMs (12,500 sanctioned) [4].

Public-Health (Epidemiological)

• Shifts focus from selective RCH to NCDs (hypertension, diabetes, cancers — oral, cervical, breast), mental health, and elderly care — aligned with India's NCD burden (~65% of mortality) [3].

Scientific / Technological

• Integration with eSanjeevani tele-consultation and ABHA (Ayushman Bharat Health Account) under Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission [3].

Governance / Ethics

• Standardized branding/tagline ("Arogyam Parmam Dhanam") improves citizen recognition; criticised for political optics over substance [2].

6. Recent Developments (last 12-18 months)

• 31 Dec 2025: 1,82,944 AAMs operationalized [1].
• 31 Oct 2025: 1,80,906 AAMs cited in a Lok Sabha-linked PIB note [3].
• Drug list expanded to 172 (PHC-AAM) and 106 (SHC-AAM); diagnostics raised to 63 and 14 respectively [1].
• Civil Services Day 2025: Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda chaired session on "Swasth Bharat through PM-JAY and AAM" [3].

7. Prelims Hooks

• AAMs are the first pillar of Ayushman Bharat (PM-JAY is the second) [3].
• Original target: 1.5 lakh HWCs by December 2022 [3].
• HWC renamed to Ayushman Arogya Mandir in 2023; tagline "Arogyam Parmam Dhanam" [2].
• Total operationalized as on 31.12.2025: 1,82,944 [1].
• PHC-AAM drug list: 172 drugs; diagnostics: 63 [1].
• SHC-AAM drug list: 106 drugs; diagnostics: 14 [1].
• Tribal-district AAMs: 30,817; Aspirational-district AAMs: 24,327 [1].
• AAMs deliver 12 packages of CPHC, including mental health and palliative care [1][3].
• Funded under the National Health Mission; tracked on the AAM Portal [1].
• SHC-AAMs are headed by a Community Health Officer (CHO) [3].
• First HWC inaugurated in 2018 at Jangla, Bijapur (Chhattisgarh) [3].
• AYUSH-AAMs are administered by the Ministry of AYUSH (separate from MoHFW network) [4].

8. Mains Relevance

• GS-II — Governance: "Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health".
• GS-II — Welfare schemes: Performance audit of flagship initiatives.
• Question stems: 1. "Ayushman Arogya Mandirs aim to transform India's primary healthcare from a selective to a comprehensive model. Critically examine." 2. "Discuss the role of Ayushman Arogya Mandirs in addressing India's rising Non-Communicable Disease burden." 3. "Evaluate the convergence between PM-JAY and AAMs in moving towards Universal Health Coverage."

9. Related Topics to Study Next

• PM-JAY — companion pillar of Ayushman Bharat (secondary/tertiary cover).
• National Health Mission (NHM) — funding vehicle for AAMs.
• Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) / ABHA — digital backbone.
• eSanjeevani — tele-medicine layer at AAMs.
• Aspirational Districts Programme (NITI Aayog) — convergence area.
• National Multi-dimensional Poverty Index — health indicators linkage.
• SDG-3 (Good Health & Well-being) — global benchmark.
• Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) 2022 — facility norms governing SHCs/PHCs.

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

• AAMs are not hospitals or secondary-care centres; they are upgraded SHCs/PHCs (primary level) [1].
• AAMs ≠ PM-JAY: PM-JAY is an insurance scheme (₹5 lakh cover) — both are sub-components of Ayushman Bharat but operationally distinct [3].
• Renaming year is 2023, not 2018 (2018 was original HWC launch) [2].
• AYUSH-AAMs are under Ministry of AYUSH, while mainstream AAMs are under MoHFW [4].
• Original target was December 2022, not 2025 — current figures represent overshoot beyond original deadline [3].