Sub-Centres to be upgraded as Health and Wellness Centres

Tirupati: Ahead of the rolling out of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s flagship programme ‘Ayushman Bharat’ (AB) on September 25 which he announced during his Independence Day speech from the ramparts of the Red Fort on Wednesday, Chittoor district has inaugurated four ‘Health and Wellness Centres’ under the same initiative on the same day. 

It may be recalled that the Prime Minister has announced the initiative during last year I-Day speech and efforts were on since then for its implementation as per the guidelines framed by National Health Mission (NHM).

The main objective of Health and Wellness Centres under AB is to reduce burden on primary health centres (PHCs) by improving the conditions of sub-centres, which cover about 5,000 population each and will give a major boost to rural health care services. 

Hitherto, people used to rush to PHCs for various tests and treatments which will be changed under the new initiative as the tests to diagnose hyper tension, diabetes, oral cancers, master women health check-ups and master men health check-ups for above 30-year people, ENT and Ophthalmology tests  will all be done at health wellness centres only.

The sub-centres will be upgraded and developed for the purpose.  Anti-natal care, immunisation programmes, telemedicine services, geriatric treatment, Yoga training to make people healthy and awareness on various diseases will be provides at these centres. In Chittoor district, 102 PHCs and 644 sub-centres are there. Under the new scheme, these sub centres will undergo a total transformation. 

Initially six centres are identified to develop as health and wellness centres and on Wednesday, four of them were inaugurated at Kanipakam, Bomma Samudram, Puthalapattu and Narahari Pet, said the Project Officer, District Training Team A Janaki Rao.

However, these centres are established at PHCs only for now to create awareness among people and subsequently the sub-centres will be transformed.

BSc (Nursing) graduates are selected and trained for six months at IGNOU accredited ‘Certificate Programme in Community Health’, to supervise these centres and appointed as MID Level Health Providers (MLHP) in addition to two ANMs and ASHA workers.

Only those cases which these staff cannot deal with will be referred to PHCs. By identifying small health problems proper treatment can be given so that they will not progress into major diseases, said in-charge DM&HO Dr C Aruna Sulochana Devi. 

These centres will have a colour code to have a particular branding, citizen charter, space for examination room with adequate privacy, diagnostics and medicine dispensation, wellness room, waiting area, labour room, contact details of primary care team and referral centres among other things and work from 9 am to 5 pm, she explained.

The National Health Policy, 2017, has envisioned Health and Wellness Centres as the foundation of India’s health system. By providing comprehensive health care system closer to the homes of people, 1.5 lakh centres will be developed. These centres are expected to play a vital role in bringing awareness about non communicable diseases and maternal and child health services. 

The Central government has allocated Rs 1,200 crore initially for the programme. There is another programme under Ayushman Bharat called National Health Protection Scheme under which 10 crore poor and vulnerable families will be covered and Rs 5 lakh coverage per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation will be provided. 

However, the guidelines are being worked out and expected to be implemented from September 25 on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay.