Ayushman Bharat Centre's scheme, cannot be converted by states: Mandaviya

Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Sunday said the Union government's flagship programme the Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres cannot be converted to any other scheme by state governments.

Earlier, the Union Health Ministry had said the Punjab government was converting Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres (AB-HWC) into 'Mohalla Clinics', a pet project of the ruling Aam Aadmi Party, and had warned of stopping the funds for the scheme.

The AB-HWC is formulated with a 60:40 contribution ratio by the Centre and the state.

Mandaviya was on a visit to Patiala on Sunday during which he made a surprise visit to review the security arrangements at a NEET-PG exam centre in the city. He also interacted with the candidates' parents there.

This is the first time that the Union Health minister has visited a National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) exam centre during an examination, a Health Ministry statement said.

"Visited NEET-PG exam centre in Patiala,