Lok Sabha Question No. 1030 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-05
Subject: Preventive Healthcare Teste
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Trivendra Singh Rawat

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1030 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05 th DECEMBER, 2025

## PREVENTIVE HEALTHCARE TESTE

## †1030. SHRI TRIVENDRA SINGH RAWAT:

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

(a) whether the Government proposes to launch a national-level scheme to provide preventive healthcare in rural and remote areas and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Government is planning to formulate a policy to mandate or routinely conduct yearly a minimum number of tests of blood and urine for early detection of breast cancer, cervical cancer, oral cancer, heart disease, kidney disease, liver and lung disease, and dental problems and if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government proposes to increase the availability of mechanisms, testing procedures, mobile health units or health workers in this regard and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;

(d) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government in this regard; and

(e) whether the Government has any plan in future in this regard and if so, the details thereof?

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

(a) to (e): Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) is actively undertaking several initiatives to promote preventive healthcare and mobile health delivery, particularly in rural and remote areas, under the broader vision of Universal Health Coverage (UHC). The National Health Mission (NHM) is a national level Centrally Sponsored Scheme which envisages achievement of universal access to equitable, affordable & quality healthcare services that are accountable and responsive to people's needs across the country and are providing preventive, promotive, palliative, rehabilitative and curative care.

Through Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs) , comprehensive primary healthcare (CPHC) is provided by strengthening Sub Health Centres (SHCs) and Primary Health Centers (PHCs) for an expanded range of services encompassing reproductive and child healthcare services, elderly care services, Communicable diseases, Non-communicable diseases, emergency medical services and other health issues. As reported by States/UTs on AAM portal, a total of 1,80,906 AAMs have been operationalized in India, till 31.10.2025. Wellness-related activities like Yoga, cycling, and meditation are conducted in AAMs. As on 31.10.2025, 6.37 crore wellness sessions including Yoga, have been conducted at AAMs.

Under Free Diagnostics Service Initiative, Government of India provides financial support to

States/UTs for providing accessible and affordable pathological and radiological diagnostics services closer to the community, free of cost at all levels of public health facilities (14 tests at SHC-AAMs, 63 at PHC-AAMs, 97 at Community Health Centres (CHCs), 111 test at Sub District Hospitals (SDHs) and 134 tests at District Hospitals (DHs)). The list of tests available at the public healthcare facilities is as per link: https://nhsrcindia.org/sites/default/files/202107/Guidance\_document\_for\_Free\_Laboratory\_Services.pdf

Under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD) , a population-based initiative for prevention, control and screening for common NCDs has been rolled out in the country under National Health Mission (NHM) and also as a part of CPHC. Under this Program, ASHA administers Community Based Assessment Checklist (CBAC) for all individuals of 30 years and above age group in the population. Risk assessment for NCDs is done through CBAC and all the high risk individuals of age 30 years and above are referred for screening of common NCDs. Population Based Screening helps in better management of diseases by the way of early stage of detection, follow up and treatment adherence. As on 30.11.2025, 39.79 crore screenings for Hypertension, 39.60 crore for Diabetes, 33.57 crore for Oral Cancer, 15.72 crore for Breast Cancer and 8.34 crore for Cervical Cancer have been carried out at all health facilities as per NP-NCD portal.

Community based interventions play an important role in preventive aspects of healthcare. Village Health, Sanitation and Nutrition Day (VHSND) platform, functioning monthly at the village level, serves as a key touchpoint for community health as a Preventive care services. Further, under NHM, states receive support for deploying Mobile Medical Units (MMUs) especially for populations in remote, hard-to-reach, underserved, and unserved areas to improve access to public healthcare. A total of 1,540 MMUs are supported under NHM to the States.

MoHFW has also implemented health camp like outreached initiatives for serving essential health services in remote places including hard-to reach areas. Currently, Ayushman Arogya Shivir, like nationwide health mela/ Shivir are conducting at AAMs and CHCs since April 2024.

The Government of India has taken number of initiatives in the form of incentives and honorarium to the medical professionals for encouraging better service delivery in rural and remote areas across the country, which include:

- i. Hard Area Allowance to specialist doctors for serving in rural and remote areas so that they find it attractive to serve in public health facilities in such areas.
- ii. States are also allowed to offer negotiable salary to attract specialist including flexibility in strategies such as 'You Quote We Pay'.
- iii. Non-monetary incentives such as preferential admission in postgraduate courses for staff serving in difficult areas and improving accommodation arrangement in rural areas have also been introduced under NHM.
- iv. Multi-skilling of doctors is supported under NHM to overcome the shortage of specialists such as Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (CEmONC) and Life Saving Anaesthesia Skills (LSAS).

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