​In November 2023, Union health ministry has decided that Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres to be renamed as _______.

Correct option is C

The correct answer is: (c) Ayushman Arogya Mandir

Explanation:
In November 2023, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare decided to rename all Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres (AB-HWCs) as “Ayushman Arogya Mandir”. The initiative is part of the government's effort to strengthen branding under the Ayushman Bharat scheme and to give a culturally rooted and people-friendly name to primary healthcare delivery centers across India. The name “Mandir” (temple) symbolizes the healthcare center as a sacred space for health and wellbeing.

Information Booster:
• Over 1.6 lakh HWCs have been operationalized under Ayushman Bharat as of 2023.
• These centres provide comprehensive primary healthcare, free essential drugs, and diagnostics.
• The new name aligns with the Indian cultural sentiment of treating health services as sacred.
• HWCs serve as first-contact healthcare providers under a continuum of care approach.
• The renaming is part of a broader strategy to improve healthcare visibility and outreach.
• Ayushman Bharat also includes the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) for secondary and tertiary care.

Additional Information:
• Ayushman Arogya Kendra: Incorrect – not the officially announced new name.
•  Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana: Incorrect – this is a component of Ayushman Bharat for health insurance, not the new name of HWCs.
• National Health Protection Scheme: Incorrect – this was the initial name proposed for PM-JAY but not used in the renaming of HWCs.