India's Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) provides health coverage of Rs. 5 lakh per family per year. Which additional feature of the Health and Wellness Centre (HWC) component of Ayushman Bharat distinguishes it from the earlier sub-centre model?

• A HWCs provide comprehensive primary health care including screening for 30 NCD conditions and free essential medicines ✓
• B HWCs focus exclusively on maternal and child health services
• C HWCs are only established in urban areas to reduce hospital overload
• D HWCs replaced all Community Health Centres in the country

Explanation

Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) — the first pillar of Ayushman Bharat — expand the scope of sub-centres and primary health centres to provide Comprehensive Primary Health Care (CPHC), including screening for 30 NCD conditions (diabetes, hypertension, oral cancer, breast cancer, cervical cancer, COPD), free essential medicines, free diagnostics, tele-consultation, and mental health services. This represents a paradigm shift from the earlier MCH-focused sub-centre model to a universal, population-based CPHC approach. They are established in both rural and urban areas.

Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.