Lok Sabha Question No. 3654 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-13
Subject: Free Diagnostics Service Initiative
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Adv Gowaal Kagada Padavi

## GOVERNMENT OFINDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3654 TO BE ANSWERED ON 13 th MARCH, 2026

## FREE DIAGNOSTICS SERVICE INITIATIVE

## 3654. ADV GOWAALKAGADAPADAVI:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) the progress made in implementing the Free Diagnostics Service Initiative in public health facilities across Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, including the number of facilities offering free tests and the range of diagnostic services provided;
- (b) the annual number of patients benefiting from free diagnostic services and the estimated out-of-pocket expenditures savings;
- (c) the financial outlays and partnerships with private diagnostic providers, if any;
- (d) the challenges faced in ensuring quality and timely availability of diagnostic services, particularly in rural and tribal areas; and
- (e) the steps taken to expand and standardise diagnostic services across all districts?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV)

(a) to (e): Public Health' & 'Hospitals' are State subjects, hence, the primary responsibility of providing basic healthcare services to all the citizens of the country lies with respective State/UT Government.

Free Diagnostics Service Initiative' (FDSI) under National Health Mission (NHM) was launched in 2015 with the aim to provide accessible and affordable pathological and radiological diagnostics services closer to the community which in turn reduces the Out-ofPocket Expenditure (OOPE). Under FDSI, Government of India provides financial support to States/UTs including Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh for 14 tests at Sub Health Centres (SHCs), 63 tests at Primary Health Centres (PHCs), 97 tests at Community Health Centres (CHCs), 111 tests at Sub-District Hospitals (SDHs) and 134 tests at District Hospitals (DHs).

The three components under the umbrella of the FDSI include (i) Free Laboratory Services which provide a range of essential diagnostic packages free of cost at different levels of care, complementing other existing healthcare services and implemented in 36 States/UTs ; (ii) CT

scan Services supported at the District Hospital level and (iii) Tele-radiology Services aimed to bridge the gap in infrastructure and shortage of specialist clinicians, especially radiologists by providing digitization and transmission of radiological images (X-ray, CT, and MRI) from peripheral health facilities to a remote hub having radiologists leading to a cost-effective health intervention.

States/UTs have adopted different modes of service delivery which include in-house mode, public private partnership and mixed mode.

Under the CSS component of Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM), Integrated Public Health Laboratories (IPHLs) and Block Public Health Units (BPHUs) are established to strengthen diagnostic capacities, address infrastructure gaps, and improve sample transportation systems across the country, including in tribal and rural areas.

The Government of India provides technical and financial support to States/UTs to strengthen diagnostic services through standard treatment and testing protocols, capacity building of laboratory personnel, quality assurance mechanisms and strengthening of laboratory infrastructure. Financial support under the FDSI is provided based on the proposals received in the form of Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs) under NHM. Government of India provides approval for the proposals in the form of Record of Proceedings (RoPs) as per norms & available resources. The details of RoPs issued to States/UTs including Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, are available at following web link:

https://nhm.gov.in/index1.php?lang=1&level=1&sublinkid=1377&lid=744

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