India's primary healthcare system is anchored by a vast network of Sub-Health Centers (SHCs) and Primary Health Centers (PHCs), forming the backbone of rural healthcare delivery. With over 1.6 lakh SHCs catering to populations of 3,000–5,000 each, these centers are the first point of contact for healthcare services at the village level. Staffed by Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs) and Multi-Purpose Workers (MPWs), SHCs focus primarily on maternal and child health, immunization, and common communicable diseases. PHCs, numbering over 31,000, serve as the first professional healthcare facility, staffed with medical officers, nurses, pharmacists, and lab technicians, catering to 20,000–30,000 people each.

Traditionally centered on selective primary care, the Government of India, through the National Health Policy 2017, aimed to transition toward Comprehensive Primary Health Care (CPHC). In 2018, under the Ayushman Bharat initiative, the government announced plans to upgrade SHCs and PHCs into 1.5 lakh Health and Wellness Centers (HWCs) by December 2022. Renamed Ayushman Arogya Mandir (AAM) in November 2023, over 1.7 lakh HWCs are now operational across India. This initiative also encourages private sector contributions through CSR and philanthropic support to enhance these centers, significantly strengthening the country’s primary healthcare framework.