PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
Thirteen Ayushman Arogya Mandirs are currently operational across the city under the National Health Mission (NHM). Dehradun municipal commissioner Namami Bansal informed that urban primary health centres have been established as Ayushman Arogya Mandirs in multiple local bodies, with municipal authorities responsible for on-ground monitoring and implementation. She said that one additional Ayushman Arogya Mandir has also been set up within the municipal corporation premises.
According to Bansal, the chief municipal health officer has inspected all functioning centres to assess service delivery, infrastructure and compliance with prescribed norms. “An inspection report has been prepared covering the facilities and services that are required to be provided at these centres,” she said, adding that corrective measures will be taken where gaps are identified.
The Ayushman Arogya Mandir initiative is a key component of the NHM’s primary healthcare reforms, aimed at delivering comprehensive, accessible and preventive healthcare at the community level. These centres are designed to offer outpatient care, basic diagnostics, maternal and child health services, management of non-communicable diseases, and essential medicines closer to urban populations.
Bansal said the MCD plans to make the list of all 13 operational Ayushman Arogya Mandirs public to ensure wider awareness and higher footfall. “The objective is to ensure that maximum residents are able to access healthcare services without unnecessary referrals to tertiary hospitals,” she said.
Health officials say the expansion of Ayushman Arogya Mandirs in the city is expected to reduce pressure on district hospitals and improve early detection and management of common ailments. The initiative aligns with the broader NHM goal of strengthening primary healthcare infrastructure across Uttarakhand, particularly in rapidly growing urban areas, officials added.
