NewKerala.com

Gujarat Forms Urban Health Committees to Boost Primary Care Access

The Gujarat government has announced the formation of Jan Arogya Samitis in urban areas and restructuring of existing health committees. The move aims to strengthen primary healthcare delivery under the Ayushman Bharat programme. Health Minister Praful Pansheriya stated that Urban Ayushman Arogya Mandir centres will provide comprehensive care. The committees will have 50% women representation and include diverse community members.

Key Points: Gujarat Forms Urban Jan Arogya Samitis for Better Healthcare

  • Formation of Urban Jan Arogya Samitis announced
  • Restructuring of existing Rogi Kalyan Samitis
  • 50% women representation mandated in committees
  • Annual untied funds of Rs 1.75 lakh at UPHC level
2 min read

Gujarat to form Urban Jan Arogya Samitis, restructure existing health committees

Gujarat announces Urban Jan Arogya Samitis and restructures health committees to strengthen primary care under Ayushman Bharat, with 50% women representation.

"The centres will not only provide treatment but will become key centres delivering preventive, curative, promotive, rehabilitative and palliative care. - Praful Pansheriya"

Gandhinagar, May 4

The Gujarat government on Monday announced the formation of Jan Arogya Samitis in urban areas and the restructuring of existing Rogi Kalyan Samitis as part of efforts to strengthen primary healthcare delivery and increase public participation under the Ayushman Bharat programme.

The move follows the transition of Ayushman Bharat Urban Health Centres into Urban Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, aimed at ensuring citizens receive quality primary healthcare services at their doorstep.

The initiative is intended to improve transparency and community involvement in the state's health sector.

State Health Minister Praful Pansheriya said the Urban Ayushman Arogya Mandir centres would serve as comprehensive healthcare hubs.

"The centres will not only provide treatment but will become key centres delivering preventive, curative, promotive, rehabilitative and palliative care," he said.

He added that since 2021, one Urban Ayushman Arogya Mandir has been made operational for every population of 20,000 to 25,000 in Gujarat, strengthening the state's health security.

Under the new structure, Jan Arogya Samitis will be constituted in urban areas, with ward members of local bodies serving as chairpersons and incharge medical officers acting as member secretaries.

The government has provided annual untied funds of Rs 1,75,000 at the Urban Primary Health Centre level and Rs 1,00,000 at the Urban Ayushman Arogya Mandir level to ensure operational autonomy.

The committees will have at least 50 per cent representation of women to prioritise maternal and child welfare issues.

They will also include representatives from Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, minority communities, women's self-help groups, resident welfare associations and the education department.

In addition, TB champions, cancer survivors, Persons with Disabilities and members of the transgender community will be included as special invitees.

Meetings of the Jan Arogya Samiti will be held every month, with detailed minute-to-minute records maintained.

Non-government members will have a tenure of two years.

Referring to earlier measures, Pansheriya noted that on September 15, 2022, Jan Arogya Samitis had been constituted at sub-health centres under rural healthcare, and existing Rogi Kalyan Samitis at Primary Health Centres had been restructured into Jan Arogya Samitis.

He expressed confidence that the new framework would enable quicker resolution of local issues and lead to a steady improvement in the quality of healthcare services.

- IANS

Share this article:

Reader Comments

S
Suresh O
Good initiative but I'm skeptical. We've seen many such committees formed over the years that end up being just names on paper. The inclusion of TB champions and transgender community is progressive, but will they actually have a voice? Also, ward members as chairpersons could lead to politicization. Let's hope implementation is better than intention.
R
Ravi K
As someone who works in public health, this restructuring is long overdue. The old Rogi Kalyan Samitis were too PHC-focused. Bringing urban areas under Jan Arogya Samitis with women's representation mandatory is excellent. But where is the budget for training these committee members? Just giving funds without capacity building won't work. Need proper orientation programs.
N
Nisha Z
Very happy to see the focus on maternal and child health through women's representation! In our slum in Surat, the Urban Health Centre is our only lifeline. If these Samitis can ensure medicines are always available and doctors visit regularly, it will be a game-changer. The special invitees for marginalized communities is a nice touch. Let's see how it works on ground.
V
Vivek B
The concept is good but I have practical concerns. One committee for every 20,000-25,000 population means many small committees - who will monitor their effectiveness? And ₹1 lakh annual untied fund for urban Ayushman Mandir seems too low for cities like Vadodara where patient load is high. Practical issues like infrastructure, staff availability need equal attention. Still, a step in right direction.
K
Kavya N
This is what we need - local bodies

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50