Bengaluru: Providing comprehensive primary health care in rural areas, Karnataka has emerged as the best state and ranked No.1 in establishing Health and wellness centers under Ayushman Bharat Programme, government sources said on Tuesday.
Karnataka leads in implementing the project for the year 2020-21 as per Health & Family welfare department. The Union government had set a target of establishing 2,263 HWC sub-centers. The state has upgraded 3,300 centers till March 31. It is 146% more than the set target. Centre has given the target of upgrading 2,096 PHC to HWC. 2,168 have been upgraded so far which is 103% more than the set target.
Also against the target of upgrading 294 urban PHCs, the state has already upgraded 364 PHCs. This is 124% more than the set target. A total of 4,653 HWC have to be established in the state as given by the centre out of which 5,832 have been established which is 125% more than the given target.
With the objective of providing quality health care for all under the Ayushman Bharat – Arogya Karnataka scheme, all PHCs are being upgraded under National Health Mission. The state has a target of upgrading 11,595 Centres as HWCs.
Counseling sessions for adults, public Yoga camps, providing temporary and permanent family planning methods to couples, ENT care, first aid during an emergency, and referring to tertiary hospitals are some of the services being offered in these centers.
Expressing satisfaction regarding this achievement, Karnataka Health & Medical Education Minister, Dr K Sudhakar said that Karnataka has emerged as the best state in implementing Health & wellness centres.
"It will enable the rural population to avail quality health care in their neighborhood. HWCs are providing good service in this regard. I congratulate all the officials and staff for this achievement," he said.
"Health department is focused more on controlling Covid at this point in time. The government is also facing a revenue crunch due to the economic slowdown caused by the pandemic. However, this has not stopped our govt from implementing developmental projects. Even though our short to medium-term goal is to tackle pandemic, our long-term goal and the ultimate aim is to strengthen PHCs which are the building blocks of our public healthcare system," said the Minister.
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