Lack of health workers in villages might hurt Modicare's wellness drive

Retention of doctors in rural areas is a major challenge which Ayushman Bharat is yet to confront

The acute shortage of qualified medical professionals in rural India may impact the relaunch of 150,000 health sub-centres and primary health centres (PHCs) as “health and wellness centres” under Ayushman Bharat Yojana, the national health scheme launched on September 23, 2018.

A lesser known part of the health insurance programme, also called Modicare, comprise health and wellness centres that will have a critical role in controlling the growing burden of non-communicable diseases in India. They will also offer maternal and child health services.

The problem is that sub-centres, run by a team of an auxiliary nurse