THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Soon the public health centres (Janakeeya Arogya Kendras) and family health centres in the state will become ‘mandir’ for patients.

The Centre has issued necessary directions to change the name of the health centres under the Ayushman Bharat scheme to Ayushman Arogya Mandir with the tagline ‘Arogyam Parmam Dhanam’.

The state has upgraded over 5,000 sub-centres in the state into public health centres and is in the process of converting the 886 primary health centres into family health centres (FHCs) under the Ayushman Bharat scheme.Nearly 700 have been converted into FHCs.

All these hospitals will now have to be renamed Ayushman Arogya Mandir as per the circular issued by L S Changsan, additional secretary and mission director, National Health Mission.It was in February 2018 that the Centre announced the creation of 1,50,000 health and wellness centres (HWCs) by transforming the existing sub-centres and primary health centres under the Ayushman Bharat.

In Kerala, it was designed to convert these sub-centres to Janakeeya Arogya Kendras and PHCs as FHCs.

The idea behind these centres were to deliver comprehensive primary health care (CPHC) bringing healthcare closer to the homes of people.

They cover both maternal and child health services and non-communicable diseases, including free essential drugs and diagnostic services.Centre’s share The Centre is yet to release its share for the NHM to the state this year claiming that the state has not completed the Ayushan Bharat branding of the health centres as per the Centre’s directive.

Hence the NHM in the state was in the process of completing the branding and a report was submitted to the Centre after the completion of 98% of the branding.

This file has been pending before the Union health ministry for the past two months.

Health minister Veena George had also personally intervened with the Centre to clear this file as all the works under the NHM in the state have been stalled due to lack of funds.

The payment of salaries to the employees, including ASHA workers, was also hit.

Since the Centre’s share was getting delayed, the state government had released Rs 60 crore last month towards its share which was utilized for the payment of salaries for the employees under NHM and to the ASHA workers.

Now, when 98% of the branding as per Ayushman Bharath guidelines has been completed, the Centre has asked to rename the centres.

We also published the following articles recentlyAyushman Bharat-Health and Wellness Centres get new name and a new taglineThe Union health ministry has decided to rebrand the Ayushman Bharat-Health and Wellness Centres as Ayushman Arogya Mandir.

The states and Union Territories have been asked to implement this rebranding exercise and upload photographs of the rebranded primary health facilities on the AB-HWC portal.

The rebranded AB-HWCs will also have a new tagline, Arogyam Parmam Dhanam.

Till now, 1.61 lakh AB-HWCs have been made functional across the country, providing various healthcare services.Centre should release Rs 621 crore under NHM, 'mohalla clinic' a state initiative: Punjab health ministerPunjab Health Minister urges Centre to release National Health Mission funds to the state.

Centre denies withholding funds, accuses Punjab of converting AB-HWC into Aam Aadmi Clinics.

Punjab government wants Aam Aadmi Clinics to be considered a state initiative.

Punjab receives award for last-mile drug delivery.

Delegates from 40 countries interested in visiting Punjab's healthcare model.

100 more Aam Aadmi Clinics ready to open.

Upgradation of secondary care facilities underway.

Over 70 lakh patients treated at Aam Aadmi Clinics.Health centre at Sanguem in need of upkeepOpposition councillor Meshu DCosta of Sanguem Municipal Council demands improvement at the primary health centre (PHC) in Sanguem.

The ambulances and power supply at the health centre are in poor condition.

Patients from remote villages rely on this facility.

The government should not neglect this PHC.