Maharashtra Expands Ayushman Arogya Mandir Services With Daily Village Clinics and Home Healthcare Visits

New healthcare initiative introduces six-day OPD services, doorstep medical care, mandatory e-Sanjeevani consultations, and improved access to primary healthcare in rural Maharashtra.

The Maharashtra government has announced an expansion of healthcare services at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs to make medical care more accessible to people in rural and remote areas. The new initiative introduces daily village-level outpatient department (OPD) services, regular home visits, and mandatory online consultations through the e-Sanjeevani telemedicine platform.

The move aims to strengthen primary healthcare facilities and ensure that residents can receive timely medical attention without having to travel long distances to hospitals and health centers.

According to a Government Resolution (GR) issued by the state Health Department on October 29, the revised system will allow Ayushman Arogya Mandirs to provide healthcare services six days a week, from Monday through Saturday.

Maharashtra Revises Ayushman Arogya Mandir OPD Timings

Under the new schedule, regular morning OPD services will operate from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. from Monday to Friday.

Healthcare staff will also conduct village-level OPDs between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. During this period, medical teams will visit one village each day to examine patients at locations such as Anganwadi centers, primary schools, and Gram Panchayat offices.

Home visits will take place from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. to provide medical support and monitor patients who need regular attention.

Saturdays will be dedicated to OPD services, healthcare meetings, and telemedicine consultations.

The village visit schedule will be prepared in advance. ASHA workers and Anganwadi workers will inform local residents about the timings and locations so more people can benefit from these services.

Home Healthcare Visits for Pregnant Women, Newborns and High-Risk Patients

A major focus of the expanded healthcare program is providing medical assistance to vulnerable groups who may find it difficult to visit healthcare centers regularly.

Health workers will conduct home visits and follow-ups for:

• Pregnant women, especially those with high-risk pregnancies.
• Breastfeeding mothers and newborn babies.
• Infants and young children.
• Patients undergoing treatment for tuberculosis and leprosy.
• People affected by sickle cell disease.
• Patients requiring palliative care and continued medical support.

Healthcare teams will also conduct regular health surveys and monitoring activities to help prevent mosquito-borne diseases.

These doorstep services are expected to improve patient monitoring and help identify health concerns at an early stage.

e-Sanjeevani Telemedicine Consultations Made Mandatory

The state government has also made regular consultations through the e-Sanjeevani telemedicine platform mandatory at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs.

Through this digital healthcare service, patients can connect with specialist doctors online and receive medical advice without having to travel to larger hospitals for every consultation.

The centers will also provide 14 types of laboratory investigations to support early diagnosis and treatment.

To ensure uninterrupted healthcare services, facilities must maintain sufficient stocks of essential medicines, injections, intravenous fluids, and diagnostic equipment.

Maharashtra Introduces Regular Monitoring of Village Healthcare Services

The revised guidelines also establish a structured monitoring system to ensure that the expanded services are implemented properly.

Medical officers at Primary Health Centers will review the functioning of Ayushman Arogya Mandirs every day. Taluka health officers will conduct weekly reviews, while district health officers will assess performance every month.

The reviews will cover important healthcare activities, including:

• Daily OPD attendance and patient visits.
• Number of e-Sanjeevani consultations.
• Patient referrals to higher healthcare facilities.
• Completion of scheduled home visits.
• Availability of medicines and diagnostic facilities.
• Overall delivery of primary healthcare services.

7 Member Committee to Oversee Healthcare Expansion

The Maharashtra government has also formed a seven-member committee to monitor the expansion and quality of healthcare services at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs.

The committee will meet once every three months to review implementation, assess service quality, and identify areas that require improvement. It will also submit its review reports to the state government.

How Will the New Ayushman Arogya Mandir Initiative Benefit Rural Maharashtra?

The expanded program is expected to bring essential medical services closer to rural households by combining village-level OPDs, home healthcare visits, digital consultations, and regular patient monitoring.

By improving access to doctors, diagnostic tests, and essential medicines, the initiative aims to reduce the need for unnecessary hospital visits and provide better healthcare support to vulnerable communities.

The revised system also strengthens the role of local healthcare workers in identifying medical needs and ensuring that patients receive timely attention.

With these changes, Maharashtra is taking another step toward building a more accessible and reliable primary healthcare network, particularly for people living in villages and remote parts of the state.