To ensure doorstep healthcare in rural areas, J&K has 523 functional AHWCs

Srinagar, Dec 15: Jammu and Kashmir has 523 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (Ayush Health and Wellness Centers) fully operational across the Union Territory to ensure doorstep healthcare in rural areas.
As per the data available with Rising Kashmir, J&K is among the leading States and UTs in implementing the National AYUSH Mission and is focusing on integrating traditional and holistic healthcare practices.
Under the National AYUSH Mission (NAM), 12,500 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs were approved across India with J&K accounted for 523 of these centers, and all are functional.
The centers were established to provide accessible and affordable healthcare while promoting alternative medicine systems, including Ayurveda, Homeopathy, and Unani.
An official said that the centers play a pivotal role in preventive healthcare and wellness services, catering to the unique health challenges of people living in J&K’s diverse terrain.
He said that the centers aim to strengthen primary healthcare infrastructure by offering free consultations, yoga sessions, and awareness programs on lifestyle diseases and also distribute herbal medicines, supporting traditional healthcare practices.
He also said that AHW centers in J&K cater to both rural and urban populations to ensure accessibility even in remote areas like Kupwara and Bandipora, often challenged by harsh weather and connectivity issues.
He further said that the government has proposed extending the Ayushman Arogya Mandir model to block and panchayat levels to strengthen healthcare infrastructure, with additional funding and personnel expected in the coming years.
While operational centers have shown success, challenges remain in ensuring sufficient personnel and resources but efforts are underway to address these gaps through local recruitment and training programs, he added.