PM-ABHIM : Building Pandemic-Ready Healthcare Infrastructure

IN NEWS: PM–Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM)

(PIB, 24 October 2025)

Analysis

1. About the Mission
   • The Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) was launched on 25 October 2021 by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
   • It is one of India’s largest pan-national health programmes with a total investment of ₹64,180 crore (2021–26).
   • The Mission aims to strengthen the healthcare infrastructure from the primary to tertiary levels and prepare India for future pandemics and emergencies.
2. Objectives
   • To create a resilient, accessible, and self-reliant public health system.
   • To strengthen health facilities including Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs), Block Public Health Units (BPHUs), Integrated Public Health Labs (IPHLs), and Critical Care Hospital Blocks (CCBs).
   • To establish a real-time, IT-enabled disease surveillance network integrated across all levels of governance.
   • To promote health research and innovation based on the One Health approach, connecting human, animal, and environmental health.
3. Progress and Implementation (as of 2025)
   • 17,788 Sub-Health Centres approved for upgradation to AAMs.
   • 11,024 Urban AAMs (U-AAMs) being set up in urban and slum areas.
   • 3,382 BPHUs and 730 IPHLs (one per district) approved.
   • 602 CCBs sanctioned in districts with populations over five lakh.
   • Total administrative approvals worth ₹32,928.82 crore granted to States and UTs.
4. Financial Allocation (₹ crore)
   • Total fund allocation (2021–26): ₹64,180 crore.
   • Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS): ₹54,204.78 crore.
   • Central Sector Components (CS): ₹9,339.78 crore.
   • 15th Finance Commission share: ₹19,272.43 crore.
5. Policy Framework and Linkages
   • Builds on National Health Policy 2017 – focus on community-based health systems and local disaster preparedness.
   • Strengthens foundations of National Health Mission (2005) – decentralised, community-owned health systems.
   • Complements the Ayushman Bharat (2018)framework through four pillars:
     1. AB–PMJAY (Insurance-based secondary & tertiary care).
     2. Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs) (Primary care).
     3. Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) (Digital health records).
     4. PM–ABHIM (Infrastructure & pandemic preparedness).
6. Global Context – WHO Pandemic Agreement (May 2025)
   • WHO member states adopted the Pandemic Agreement to ensure equitable pandemic response.
   • Introduced the Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) system, Coordinating Financial Mechanism, and Global Supply Chain and Logistics Network (GSCL).
   • Complements International Health Regulations (IHR, 2024) to improve global outbreak coordination.
   • PM-ABHIM aligns with this framework to enhance India’s global health resilience.
7. Alignment with SDGs
   • Directly supports Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being).
   • Contributes to targets on ending communicable diseases, achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC), and ensuring access to affordable medicines and vaccines by 2030.
8. Significance
   • Strengthens India’s pandemic preparedness and emergency response capacity.
   • Establishes a decentralised and technology-driven health system.
   • Enhances surveillance, diagnostics, and tertiary care capacity across rural and urban regions.
   • Promotes a research-oriented and inclusive health ecosystem in line with Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.
9. Conclusion
   • Four years post-launch, PM-ABHIM has become a cornerstone of India’s health infrastructure transformation.
   • Through a multi-level approach—combining infrastructure, research, digitalisation, and surveillance—it ensures India’s preparedness for future pandemics while advancing towards Universal Health Coverage and SDG-3 targets.

Static Information

• Launched by: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
• Launch Year: 2021
• Duration: 2021–26
• Total Outlay: ₹64,180 crore
• Policy Foundation: National Health Policy (2017)
• Linked Schemes: NHM, AB-PMJAY, ABDM
• Approach: One Health, Universal Health Coverage
• Global Link: WHO Pandemic Agreement (2025), International Health Regulations (2024)
  
  
  

Updated - 24 OCT 2025 3:39 PM | PIB