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Abbott to upgrade more than 300 Primary Health Centres (PHCs) by 2026

by Abbott

In a significant initiative to strengthen public healthcare at the grassroots level, global healthcare leader Abbott is upgrading over 300 Primary Health Centres (PHCs) into Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) across 12 states by 2026. This initiative, in collaboration with Americares India Foundation, will potentially benefit 9.8 million people by enhancing access to quality and affordable healthcare in underserved communities.  

 

Since the programme’s inception in 2022, Abbott has already successfully upgraded 216 PHCs. This initiative aligns with the government’s Ayushman Bharat programme, complementing efforts to provide comprehensive and accessible primary care.

 

Key outcomes in 2024 vs. 2022

An analysis of the first 127 upgraded PHCs surveyed at the end of 2024 reveal a significant rise in patient trust and service uptake.  

  • Close to 76% increase in laboratory diagnostic tests, enabling earlier and more accurate disease detection.  
  • 67% increase in visits by patients with hypertension and 59% increase in outpatient consultations for patients with diabetes, reflecting improved management of chronic diseases.  
  • 18% overall increase in patient outpatient (OPD) attendance, showing a growing confidence in public primary healthcare facilities.  
  • 9% rise in institutional deliveries, indicating stronger maternal and child health services.  

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    The upgradation efforts are comprehensive, focusing on the three core pillars of infrastructure development, capacity building of healthcare workers, and community engagement. Some interventions include:  

  • Upgrading infrastructure: Renovating facilities with a focus on Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) interventions, including clean drinking water and separate toilets.  Special spaces like yoga rooms and private examination rooms for women are also being added.  
  • Providing equipment: Equipping centres with essential medical instruments such as ECG machines, digital spirometers, and tools for emergency medical services and maternal care based on specific needs of a PHC. Emergency medical services include oxygen support, dialysis, medical emergency stabilization services, stretchers), ENT and geriatric care services.
  • Capacity building of frontline health workers: Over 250,000 hours of training have been provided to PHC health workers and Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) on critical areas like NCD screening and infection control. To date, 4,388 PHC-level health workers and 5,460 ASHAs have been trained.  

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    Ambati Venu, Vice President, Abbott India said, “Upgrading Primary Health Centers advances access to affordable healthcare services and infrastructure, and fosters proactive health-seeking behavior within communities, promoting early diagnosis and effective treatment. This is particularly crucial to help address India’s significant burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Demonstrating the impact, we have seen positive outcomes with increased footfall for availing health services in these upgraded centres. This effort aligns with Abbott’s goal of expanding access to quality care in India.”

     

    V.S. Chandrashekar, Country Director, Americares India Foundation, said, “The upgraded PHCs are in line with the government’s Ayushman Bharat initiative and play a vital role in making quality healthcare more equitable and accessible to lessen India’s disease burden. We aim to continue driving efforts to improve infrastructure, strengthen service delivery capabilities, promote health education, and support community health workers. This can help these centres better serve people’s healthcare needs across various stages of their lives.”  

    A national initiative with local impact

     

    The programme covers the 12 states of Maharashtra, Goa, Haryana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, and Jharkhand. Strengthened PHCs in these regions help families detect chronic illnesses earlier, reduce unnecessary hospital visits, and receive dignified care without long travel. For instance, the creation of a dedicated female examination room at Kukkehalli PHC in Karnataka has boosted the confidence of women for seeking care, while in rural Jharkhand, an upgraded PHC enabled a young mother to safely deliver her child locally, saving her family significant travel time and expense.  

     

    By improving grassroots access, the facilities ease the burden on secondary and tertiary care, making the healthcare system more efficient and inclusive. As more PHCs are upgraded, the network is becoming a cornerstone in India’s pursuit of universal health coverage, transforming the promise of a Healthy India into a tangible, everyday reality.

     

    Tags:

    PHCs CSR