Union Health Minister JP Nadda Flags Off Ayushman Bharat Vans, Distributes Appointment Letters to New Healthcare Staff in Delhi
In a significant step toward strengthening Delhi’s healthcare system, Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda on Sunday distributed appointment letters to newly recruited nursing officers and paramedical staff, and launched a fleet of Ayushman Bharat Registration Vans at a public ceremony held at Vigyan Bhawan.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta joined Nadda at the event, which marked a major milestone in public health administration for the capital.
First Recruitment in 15 Years for Nursing and Paramedical Staff in Delhi
Calling the moment “historic,” Nadda highlighted that for the first time in over 15 years, Delhi has initiated the appointment of nursing officers and paramedical professionals through a formal recruitment process.
A total of 1,388 nursing officers and 41 paramedical officials were selected via the Delhi Subordinate Services Selection Board (DSSSB). So far, 1,270 candidates have accepted the offers, and document verification has been completed for 557 nursing officers and 20 paramedical staff.
Nadda said this long-overdue recruitment drive is essential for addressing the acute shortage of healthcare personnel in Delhi, especially given the capital’s role as a hub where patients from across the country seek medical care.
Improving Access Through Ayushman Bharat Schemes
At the event, Nadda flagged off 20 of 70 planned Ayushman Bharat Registration Vans, which will travel across all 70 Assembly constituencies in Delhi over the next 30 days.
These specially designed vans will carry out doorstep registration for the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), collect beneficiary data, and issue Ayushman Cards, ensuring deeper penetration of healthcare benefits into underserved communities.
Nadda also emphasized the expansion of Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs) in Delhi, stating that 1,100 AAMs will be set up by March 31, 2026, under the PM Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM).
These centres are central to the government’s vision of providing comprehensive, equitable, and preventive healthcare, especially in rural and low-income urban zones.
Focus on the Elderly and Preventive Care
A special focus has been placed on the elderly under the Ayushman Vay Vandana scheme, which provides healthcare access to citizens aged 70 and above.
In Delhi alone, four lakh Ayushman Cards have been issued, two lakh of which fall under the Vay Vandana category.
Highlighting the paradigm shift in India’s health policy since 2017, Nadda contrasted the earlier curative-focused 1997 National Health Policy with the 2017 policy, which integrates preventive, promotive, curative, rehabilitative, and palliative care.
He noted that mass health screenings are being undertaken at the national level:
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18 crore for hypertension,
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17 crore for diabetes,
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15 crore for oral cancer,
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7.5 crore for breast cancer, and
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4.5 crore for cervical cancer.
These initiatives, he said, are helping with early diagnosis and intervention, key to reducing disease burden.
Achievements in Maternal, Child Health, and TB Control
Nadda also spoke about the improvements in maternal and child health indicators, citing:
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Maternal Mortality Ratio dropped from 130 to 88 per 1 lakh live births,
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Infant Mortality Rate declined from 39 to 26, and
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Under-Five Mortality Rate is falling by 42%, compared to the global average of 14%.
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Neonatal mortality has reduced by 40%, compared to the global decline of 11%.
He added that India’s fight against tuberculosis is yielding strong results, with the WHO Global TB Report 2024 showing a 17.7% decline in TB incidence — more than double the global average rate of 8.3%.
Medical Education and Infrastructure Growth
India’s medical education infrastructure has witnessed rapid expansion. In 2014, the country had only seven AIIMS, whereas 20 are now operational.
The number of medical colleges has increased from 387 to 780, and medical seats have grown from 51,000 to 1.18 lakh, with a target of adding 75,000 more in the next five years.
CM Rekha Gupta: Delhi on Track to Build 1,100 AAMs
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, who shared the stage with Nadda, echoed his sentiments on prioritizing healthcare.
She said that Delhi has already issued four lakh Ayushman Cards, with 2,258 individuals receiving treatment under the Ayushman scheme.
108 hospitals in Delhi have been empanelled, and the government aims to inaugurate 100 AAMs every month, targeting 15 in each Assembly constituency and 150 in every Parliamentary constituency.
