Unprecedented work being done under PM-ABHIM: Niti Aayog member VK Paul

Niti Aayog member VK Paul said unprecedented public healthcare initiatives have been taken up under the PM- Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM).

He said that under PM-ABHIM, major investments are being made to enhance primary and secondary healthcare and also to strengthen the public health infrastructure to effectively manage and respond to any future pandemics.

"PM-ABHIM is a Rs 64,000 crore infrastructure project and unprecedented work is being done in this regard," Paul told ANI.

"Under PM-ABHIM, in every block in the country, Blocks Public Health units and labs will be made. In 600 districts, Integrated Public Health Units are being planned. The National Centre for Disease Control will have 30 branches across the country. The National Institute of Virology will get regional centers. There will be three more BSL-4 labs in the country," Paul said.

He said 30,000 critical care beds will be created in the country under PM-ABHIM to strengthen secondary health care.

"Critical care hospital blocks are being created and these blocks are created in all the District Hospitals and also in Central Health institutions. 30,000 critical care beds will be created under this initiative," he said.

He further said to prepare the health system to manage future pandemics, major investments are being made under PM-ABHIM.In this regard the National Institute of One Health is being created in the country, he added.

One Health is an integrating idea that brings different sectors together to solve the health, productivity, and conservation challenges and has major implications for India.

The Prime Minister's Science, Technology, and Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC) in its 21st meeting, approved to setting up of a National One Health Mission with a cross-ministerial effort that will serve to coordinate, support, and integrate all the existing One Health activities in the country and fill gaps where it is appropriate.

PM-Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) was launched with an outlay of Rs. 64,180 crores. The measures under the PM-ABHIM focus on developing capacities of health systems and institutions across the continuum of care at all levels, primary, secondary, and tertiary, to prepare health systems to respond effectively to current and future pandemics and disasters.