International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health | December 2021 | Vol 8 | Issue 12 Page 5852
International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health
Sood A et al. Int J Community Med Public Health. 2021 Dec;8(12):5852-5855
http://www.ijcmph.com
pISSN 2394-6032 | eISSN 2394-6040
Original Research Article
Assessment of health and wellness centres in hilly district of
Himachal Pradesh
Abhilash Sood, Devender Kumar, Arvind Kumar*, Sanjay, Aditya Sood, Neetu
INTRODUCTION
The National Health policy 2017 has envisioned Health
and Wellness Centres (HWCs) under Ayushman Bharat in
health care system of India. In February 2018, the
Government of India's announced the creation of 1,50,000
HWCs by transforming existing sub centres and primary
health centres as the base pillar of Ayushman Bharat.
1
At
present 741 health and wellness centres were upgraded
from Primary health centres and sub centres in Himachal
Pradesh.
2
In district Hamirpur total 59 HWCs are
operational. Hamirpur district is located in hilly state of
Himachal Pradesh, India with a population of 4,54,468.
3
A
three tier service delivery framework is proposed at the
HWCs. First, the family/household and community level
services, which will be delivered by ASHAs and MPWs.
Community platforms such as, Village Health Sanitation
and Nutrition Committees, Village Health and Nutrition
Days (VHNDs), Mahila Arogya Samities, would also be
leveraged. Second, comprehensive primary health care
services will be provided at the HWC for at least six
hours/day. Third, the referral services by referring patients
to Primary Health Centre, Community Health Centre
(CHC) or a District Hospital (DH)/FRUs depending on the
type and severity of the illness. In Himachal Pradesh with
significant geographical disparities and challenges,
establishment of HWC in far-flung areas indicates a
paradigm shift in government policy in addressing health-
ABSTRACT
Background: The National health policy 2017 has envisioned Health and wellness centres under Ayushman Bharat in
health care system of India. In Himachal Pradesh with significant geographical disparities and challenges, establishment
of HWC in far-flung areas indicates a paradigm shift in government policy in addressing health-care needs through
primary health-care setup. The aim of the study was conducted to identify the gaps in Ayushman Bharat Health and
wellness centres under various domains of service delivery.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the AB-Health and wellness centres in district Hamirpur of
Himachal Pradesh. Duration of study was five months with effect from 1st March 2021 to 31st July 2021.Study tool
used was a validated checklist prepared by National Health Mission Government of Himachal Pradesh.
Results: There is deficient human resource in Health and wellness centres (PHCs and SCs). Inadequate skill
competencies observed especially in newly appointed health care workers. Equipment for telemedicine are available at
each health centre but none or very few tele-consultation are being done by health care workers.
Conclusions: In present study it was seen that target to upgrade AB-HWCs have been achieved but still human resource,
infrastructure, trainings, skill competencies of health care workers are inadequate. To fill up these gaps there is need of
focussed and target oriented determination by health department of state.
Keywords: Health wellness centre, Community, Domain, Ayushman Bharat
Department of Community Medicine, DRKMGC, Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh, India
Received: 15 October 2021
Revised: 17 November 2021
Accepted: 18 November 2021
*Correspondence:
Dr. Arvind Kumar,
E-mail: dr.arvinddhiman77@gmail.com
Copyright: © the author(s), publisher and licensee Medip Academy. This is an open-access article distributed under
the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License, which permits unrestricted non-commercial
use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20214578