New Delhi : In a significant move to bolster Delhi’s public health infrastructure, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has been officially designated as the nodal authority for implementing the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) and Ayushman Arogya Mandir (AAM) initiatives under the National Health Mission (NHM).
The development follows a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Delhi’s Department of Health and Family Welfare. Confirmed through an official order issued on May 21, the DGHS will now be responsible for the planning, implementation, and monitoring of both programmes across the capital.
The order stated, “DGHS shall be overall in charge for management and execution of programme components in Delhi, ensuring the availability of human resources, drugs, diagnostics, equipment, logistics, training, and infrastructure in accordance with Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS).”
To facilitate local-level implementation, all District Medical Officers (DMOs) have been designated as nodal officers for Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, which include Sub-Centres (SCs) and Primary Health Centres (PHCs).
Officials noted that the PM-ABHIM, launched in 2021-22, funds sub-centres through consolidated allocations valid through 2026. Based on Delhi’s population, 1,139 sub-centres are required. Meanwhile, PHCs are funded under NHM via a 60:40 cost-sharing model between the Centre and Delhi Government. Of the 400 PHCs projected for the city, 123 have been approved for setup in the current financial year.
This move is expected to enhance healthcare delivery by ensuring better coordination, infrastructure, and services at the grassroots level.
