Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) are integral to India’s healthcare system, especially in the context of the government’s Ayushman Bharat initiative. Launched in 2018, these centres aim to transform 150,000 Sub-Health Centres (SHCs) and Primary Health Centres (PHCs) into HWCs by 2022. The objective is to provide comprehensive primary healthcare services, focusing on both preventive and promotive care, to the population, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
Key Features of Health & Wellness Centres:
- Comprehensive Primary Healthcare: HWCs offer a broad range of services, including maternal and child health, non-communicable diseases (NCDs), mental health, oral health, ENT, ophthalmology, and basic emergency care.
- Community Participation: These centres emphasize community involvement, engaging local populations in health-related activities, awareness campaigns, and wellness initiatives.
- Focus on Preventive Healthcare: HWCs are not just about treating illnesses but also about preventing them. They offer screening and management of common NCDs like hypertension and diabetes, early detection of cancer, and lifestyle modification advice.
- Team-Based Care: The centres are staffed with a team of healthcare professionals, including community health officers (CHOs), auxiliary nurse midwives (ANMs), and Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs), ensuring a holistic approach to healthcare delivery.
- Telemedicine Services: To overcome geographical barriers and enhance access to specialist consultations, many HWCs are equipped with telemedicine services, allowing patients in remote areas to consult with doctors located in urban centres.
- Digital Health Records: HWCs are also working towards creating electronic health records for individuals, ensuring continuity of care and better management of chronic conditions.
Impact:
Health & Wellness Centres are pivotal in achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in India by making healthcare services more accessible, affordable, and inclusive. They have been instrumental in reducing the burden on tertiary healthcare centres by addressing health issues at the primary level.
Challenges:
Despite their benefits, HWCs face challenges like inadequate staffing, lack of infrastructure in some areas, and the need for continuous training and capacity building for healthcare workers.
In summary, Health & Wellness Centres are a cornerstone of India’s healthcare system, providing essential services and promoting overall well-being, especially in rural and underserved regions. Their focus on preventive care, community involvement, and comprehensive health services marks a significant step towards improving public health in India.
HWC are envisaged to deliver expanded range services that go beyond Maternal and child health care services to include care for non -communicable diseases, palliative and rehabilitative care, Oral, Eye and ENT care, mental health and first level care for emergencies and trauma , including free essential drugs and diagnostic services
Expanded range of services
The expansion of services has been planned in incremental manner. As a first step, Screening, Prevention, Control and Management of Non-communicable Diseases and Chronic Communicable diseases like Tuberculosis and Leprosy has been introduced at HWCs.
- Care in pregnancy and childbirth.
- Neonatal and infant health care services
- Childhood and adolescent health care services.
- Family planning, Contraceptive services and Other Reproductive Health Care services
- Management of Communicable diseases: National Health Programs
- Management of Common Communicable Diseases and General Out-patient care for acute simple illnesses and minor ailments
- Screening, Prevention, Control and Management of Non-Communicable diseases and chronic communicable disease like TB and Leprosy
- Basic Oral health care
- Care for Common Ophthalmic and ENT problems
- Elderly and Palliative health care services
- Emergency Medical Services
- Screening and Basic management of Mental health ailment
