Bhubaneswar- In a major step toward strengthening rural healthcare, the Odisha government is set to establish ‘Ayushman Arogya Mandirs’ in every Gram Panchayat across the state. These health centers will function similarly to Primary Health Centres (PHCs), offering preventive and basic medical services to village residents and easing the burden on large tertiary hospitals such as SCB Medical College and Capital Hospital.
According to State Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling, each Ayushman Arogya Mandir will be staffed by a Community Health Officer (CHO) and two support staff, including a Multipurpose Health Worker and a Yoga Instructor. Their focus will be on providing immediate and preventive healthcare, especially for common ailments like fever, diabetes, and high blood pressure, directly within village boundaries.
ASHAs and ANMs will monitor eligibility and access to services, ensuring that citizens receive the care they are entitled to under government health schemes. These efforts aim to minimize unnecessary patient referrals to higher-level facilities, thereby reducing overcrowding at urban hospitals.
Currently, patients with minor symptoms like fever often travel through multiple healthcare layers—from sub-centers to PHCs to CHCs—and eventually reach Capital Hospital or SCB Medical in Cuttack, overwhelming these institutions. The new Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, with their community-based model, are expected to break this chain by delivering treatment at the grassroots level.
The initiative will be rolled out in all 6,700 Gram Panchayats of the state. At each Mandir, 120 types of essential medicines will be provided free of cost. These include vital medications for chronic illnesses like diabetes and hypertension. Alongside medicine distribution, up to 16 diagnostic tests will be conducted on-site, and a complete health database of villagers will be maintained for tracking and continuity of care.
A significant component of the program includes lifestyle education, where the Yoga Instructor will guide citizens on wellness routines to combat sedentary habits and lifestyle-related disorders. These health hubs are not only treatment centers but also wellness and awareness centers, bringing health knowledge closer to people’s homes.
The CHOs posted at these centers will play a critical role. They are empowered to prescribe only the government-approved list of 120 medicines, as per official guidelines. They cannot write prescriptions for medicines outside this list, ensuring rational drug use and proper management of government health resources.
The Odisha government, under its “Double Engine” governance model, is actively engaging community health officers, social workers, and local governance systems to ensure that these services reach every corner of the state. The aim is to empower communities, reduce healthcare disparities, and make health services truly accessible to all.
With this focused and inclusive healthcare model, Odisha is moving closer to achieving its vision of universal health coverage and reducing rural dependence on urban medical infrastructure.
