The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare successfully conducted a two-day National Training of Trainers (NToT) program for all five cadres delivering primary healthcare services at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs. The event took place at the National Health Systems Resource Centre (NHSRC) in New Delhi and was presided over by Smt. Aradhana Patnaik, Additional Secretary and Mission Director of the National Health Mission.
During the inaugural session, the Ministry launched the Integrated Training Strategy (ITS) along with cadre-specific training modules, which had been initially unveiled by Union Health Minister Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda on April 30, 2026, during the National Summit on Best Practices in Chandigarh. This strategy represents a paradigm shift from programme-specific, knowledge-focused capacity building to a patient-centric, competency-based training approach.
The training program targets five specific healthcare cadres: Medical Officers, Staff Nurses, Community Health Officers (CHOs), Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs), and Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs). The initiative aims to strengthen both technical competencies and essential behavioral skills, including empathy and effective communication, to ensure people-centred and compassionate care delivery.
The National ToT brought together more than 110 National Trainers and Master Trainers from across the country for an immersive learning experience that combined classroom sessions, case-based discussions, and hands-on practical training at the NIHFW Skill Lab. The program will be rolled out in cascade mode through more than 100 Regional Training Institutes identified across the country starting from August 2026 onwards.
The Integrated Training Strategy is expected to enhance the quality of primary healthcare services, standardize capacity-building efforts nationwide, and strengthen public trust in the healthcare system by equipping frontline health workers with the necessary knowledge, skills, and attitudes to meet evolving healthcare needs. Senior officials from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), National Medical Commission (NMC), and Mission Karmayogi Bharat (MKB) were also present at the event.