New Delhi, Oct 24 (NationPress) The Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) has significantly bolstered India’s pandemic readiness over the past four years by improving health surveillance systems aimed at tackling pandemics, as stated by the government on Friday.

Launched on October 25, 2021, amidst the global surge of Covid-19 cases, the PM-ABHIM initiative is backed by an investment of Rs 64,180 crore from 2021 to 2026, focusing on bridging infrastructure gaps in health, research, and surveillance.

“Four years following its inception, PM-ABHIM has revolutionized India’s health infrastructure, allocating Rs 64,180 crore to enhance pandemic preparedness and emergency response capabilities,” the government remarked in an official announcement.

“By upgrading facilities from primary to tertiary care levels and improving surveillance systems, the initiative has established a more resilient healthcare framework,” it continued.

PM-ABHIM emphasizes pandemic and disaster readiness by expanding a technology-driven, real-time disease surveillance network that connects laboratories at block, district, regional, and national levels to effectively identify, investigate, and prevent outbreaks.

Moreover, it fosters health research and innovation, especially regarding Covid and other infectious diseases, by promoting the One Health approach, which acknowledges the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health.

Significant programs under PM-ABHIM's Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) component include the authorization of 17,788 building-less Sub-Health Centres to be upgraded into Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs), and 11,024 Urban AAMs (U-AAMs) to expand primary healthcare in slum and underserved urban regions.

Additionally, 3,382 Block Public Health Units (BPHUs) are being established to enhance block-level health management and service delivery, while 730 Integrated Public Health Laboratories (IPHLs) are being constructed, one in every district, to improve diagnostic and surveillance capabilities.

Furthermore, to fortify tertiary care, 602 Critical Care Hospital Blocks (CCBs) are being set up in districts with populations exceeding five lakh.

To date, administrative approvals amounting to Rs 32,928.82 crore have been granted to States and Union Territories for these initiatives, encompassing 9,519 AAMs, 5,456 U-AAMs, 2,151 BPHUs, 744 IPHLs, and 621 CCBs.

“These initiatives represent a significant step towards creating a resilient, decentralized, and accessible public health network capable of delivering timely and quality healthcare throughout the nation,” the government concluded.