NEW DELHI: In a major achievement in strengthening the country's health infrastructure and accessibility to CGHS services, there has been a 3-fold increase in the number of Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) Wellness Centres, said Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Wednesday.

Inaugurating virtually a CGHS Wellness Centre in Silchar, Assam, Mandaviya said, "The cities covered by Central Government Health Scheme Wellness Centres have grown from 25 in 2014 to 75 now. This is in line with the envision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji to provide easily accessible healthcare services closer to the communities," the Health minster said.

Mandaviya reiterated the commitment of the Union Government to providing easily accessible quality healthcare services to the beneficiaries. He said that the new CGHS centre at Silchar will offer healthcare services to serving and retired Central Government employees residing not only in Silchar but in neighbouring districts of Hailakandi, Karimganj and the Barak Valley.

Mandaviya emphasised, "Despite Silchar being a significant city in the Barak Valley, recipients had to travel more than 180 kilometres from Aizawl or 208 km to Shillong in order to access CGHS services. Several thousands of beneficiaries' medical needs would be met by the new Wellness Centre, lessening their burdens because they would no longer need to go to such far locations." The Wellness Center will include outpatient treatments such as prescription drugs, referrals for diagnostic tests, and in-patient care at government and accredited hospitals. In hospitals with accreditation, there will be cashless treatment options available.

India has made a number of efforts to improve the nation's health infrastructures. The Prime Minister's Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM), the Emergency Response and Health Systems Preparedness Package (ECRP-I), and the Emergency Response and Health Systems Preparedness Package II (ECRP-II) have all received approval from the federal government to strengthen the health infrastructure in the states. Together, these programmes total Rs. 23,000 crore.

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