The Pradhan Mantri–Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM), launched in October 2021, has emerged as one of India’s largest healthcare initiatives aimed at strengthening the nation’s preparedness for future pandemics and health emergencies.

About PM- Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM)
The PM-Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) is a pan-India scheme launched in 2021 to strengthen the country's healthcare system at all levels—primary, secondary, and tertiary. It is one of India's largest health schemes, designed to improve the health infrastructure, especially in rural and underserved urban areas, and to better prepare for future pandemics and health crises. 
Key objectives

• Establish a resilient public health system: Strengthen healthcare infrastructure from the grassroots level to the district level.
• Enhance disease surveillance: Create an IT-enabled, real-time disease surveillance network with an integrated lab network at various administrative levels.
• Fill critical gaps: Address deficiencies in health infrastructure, surveillance, and research in both urban and rural areas.
• Improve healthcare access: Ensure that comprehensive primary, secondary, and critical care are more accessible to communities.
• Promote health research: Foster research and innovation, particularly regarding infectious diseases, by applying a "One Health" approach.
• Achieve universal health coverage: Advance India's universal health coverage goals and align with Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being). 

Components and initiatives
PM-ABHIM is implemented through a combination of Centrally Sponsored and Central Sector components. 
Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) components:

• Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs): Support the establishment and strengthening of 17,788 rural AAMs (formerly Health and Wellness Centres) to provide comprehensive primary healthcare services.
• Urban AAMs (U-AAMs): Set up and reinforce 11,024 U-AAMs, especially in slums and urban areas, to reach vulnerable populations.
• Block Public Health Units (BPHUs): Establish 3,382 BPHUs to strengthen health administration and services at the block level.
• Integrated Public Health Labs (IPHLs): Develop 730 IPHLs, with at least one in each district, to enhance diagnostic capabilities.
• Critical Care Hospital Blocks (CCBs): Establish 602 CCBs in districts with a population of over 5 lakh to improve critical and intensive care services. 

Central Sector (CS) components:

• Disease surveillance: Build an IT-enabled disease surveillance system connecting laboratories at all levels.
• Public health units at entry points: Establish new and strengthen existing public health units at ports and airports to deal with health emergencies.
• Health emergency centers: Set up mobile hospitals and health emergency operation centers.
• Research institutions: Establish key national research institutions for virology and One Health. 

Budget
The mission was launched with an initial outlay of ₹64,180 crore over six years, from FY 2021–22 to FY 2025–26.
This funding is in addition to the existing National Health Mission (NHM) and helps bridge critical infrastructure gaps.

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