Recent reforms in Ayushman Arogya Mandir for health system strengthening in India: Concept, progress and ways forward

Abstract

The Ayushman Arogya Mandir (AAM) is one of India's most important public health centers. The AAM has been restructured to address the challenges faced by the health system in India, including inadequate access to healthcare services, a high burden of out-of-pocket health expenses, and insufficient focus on preventive health care. The National Health Plan (NHP) 2017 was designed to implement the SDGs (Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all) by addressing the evolving health challenges in India and implementing several key strategies to achieve this. The health system strengthening in India represents a transformative approach to achieving universal health coverage and enhancing the resilience of the healthcare system. By focusing on primary healthcare through Health and Wellness Centers (HWCs), expanding access to secondary and tertiary care via the Pradhan Mantri Janaya (PM-JAY), and leveraging digital health technologies under the National Digital Health Mission (NDHM), India is addressing critical gaps in healthcare infrastructure, workforce capacity, and service delivery. Integrating public-private partnerships, targeted infrastructure development under PM-ABHIM, and financial protection for vulnerable populations have significantly improved access to quality healthcare services.