Govt will have to spend ₹3.6 crore on re-branding HWCs

Indore: Amid fund crunch in public health facilities, state government will have to shell out Rs3.60 crore for changing names of health and wellness centres (HWCs) as ‘Ayushman Arogya Mandir’ adhering to the direction of Union government.
Public health facilities in the state are already grappling with fund crunch to buy medicines, consumables and instruments and there is substantial delay in infrastructure upgrade due to issues including this.Per patient (out-patient department) expenditure of hospitals of medical colleges in the last fiscal ranged between 24% and 41% only against ideal expenditure required, as per retrospective comparative analysis. Also, per patients’ expenditure of in-patient department in those hospitals ranged between 38% and 56% only against ideal expenditure required, shows report.

Interestingly, this would be second time when name or tagline of HWCs across the country is being changed. Madhya Pradesh National Health Mission deputy director Manish Singh said, “In Madhya Pradesh, there are around 12,000 HWCs functional across districts. In accordance with new directions, the names of all these HWCs would be changed and pictures are required to be updated on the portal by December 30.”
Earlier also the tagline of the HWCs were changed, he added.
The Union government in a letter dated November 25 has directed all states and union territories to implement the rebranding exercise by end of this year, wherein Ayushman Bharat-Health and Wellness Centres would be renamed as ‘Ayushman Arogya Mandir’ with tagline ‘Arogyam Paramam Dhanam'. And the states will have to upload a picture of all HWCs with changed names on the portal while retaining the National Health Mission logo.
The HWCs are being established under Ayushman Bharat Scheme since September 2018 with an aim to provide comprehensive primary healthcare, including both maternal and child health services, and free essential drugs and diagnostic services close to people's homes.