Rekha Gupta government aligns with Centre, greenlights Ayushman Bharat Health Mission in Delhi
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In a significant policy shift, the Rekha Gupta-led Delhi government has decided to sign an agreement with the Centre for the implementation of the PM-Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM), overturning the previous AAP administration’s opposition to the scheme.
The change in stance was made evident on Friday when the Delhi government withdrew its petition from the Supreme Court, which had previously challenged a Delhi High Court directive to join the health initiative.
A Bench of Justices B.R. Gavai and P.K. Mishra granted permission for the withdrawal after the government’s counsel, Advocate Jyoti Mendiratta, confirmed that Delhi was moving forward with implementing the scheme.
The High Court’s ruling in January stemmed from a 2017 Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that questioned why Delhi had opted out of the initiative when it was already benefiting residents in 33 states and Union Territories. The court had initially directed the AAP government to pilot the scheme in the capital and gradually expand it.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta's first Cabinet meeting signaled her administration’s priority in strengthening healthcare services across Delhi. She unveiled a blueprint to establish 1,139 urban public health centres, also known as Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (U-AAMs), under the PM-ABHIM scheme. The project will be backed by a Rs 2,406 crore investment from the Central government.
To fast-track implementation, the Health Department has been directed to set up 11 model U-AAMs within 30 days, one in each district, under the supervision of District Magistrates.
In addition to activating new Urban Health Centres, the government plans to build 413 more facilities to supplement the existing 553 Mohalla Clinics, which will be upgraded to U-AAMs. According to a Health Department report, this expansion aims to enhance accessibility to primary healthcare across Delhi.
The Delhi government is also working to expand healthcare services beyond lower-income areas, ensuring gated societies and upscale neighborhoods have access to public health benefits. This will be achieved by increasing the number of Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) and enrolling 1 lakh new Ayushman Bharat beneficiaries within a month.