Lok Sabha Question No. 4663 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-20
Subject: Promotion of Telemedicine Services in Rural and Remote Regions
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Suresh Kumar Shetkar, Shri Vijayakumar Alias Vijay Vasanth

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO: 4663 TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.03.2026

## PROMOTION OF TELEMEDICINE SERVICES IN RURALAND REMOTE REGIONS

## 4663. SHRI SURESH KUMAR SHETKAR: SHRI VIJAYAKUMAR ALIAS VIJAY VASANTH:

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

- (a) whether the Government has prepared a national roadmap to scale up telemedicine services across rural and remote regions, if so, the State-wise coverage and patient utilisation data thereof;
- (b) whether telemedicine infrastructure in Primary Health Centres suffers from connectivity and equipment shortages, if so, the details of deficiencies identified and corrective measures undertaken in this regard;
- (c) whether the Government proposes dedicated funding support to States for expanding telemedicine networks under Centrally sponsored schemes, if so, the details of allocation and the utilisation monitoring mechanism put in place for such funds;
- (d) whether trained doctors and specialists are adequately available for tele-consultations in rural areas, if so, the details of the doctor-patient ratio under telemedicine platforms and vacancy status thereof;
- (e) whether telemedicine consultations are integrated with Ayushman Bharat Digital Health Mission records for continuity of treatment, if so, the details of interoperability framework and implementation status thereof; and
- (f) whether elderly, maternal and chronic disease patients are specifically covered through telemedicine outreach programmes, if so, the details of beneficiary numbers and targeted health outcomes achieved in this regard?

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

(a) to (f): Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) has implemented a telemedicine service known as national telemedicine service (eSanjeevani) working as per under mentioned variants-

- i. eSanjeevani AB-AAM: It is a provider-to-provider telemedicine system, launched in November 2019 and is based on hub and spoke model.
- ii. eSanjeevani OPD: It is a patient-to-provider telemedicine system, launched in April 2020, to enable citizens to get outpatient services in the confines of their homes to provide safe provider-to-patient consultations.

The platform has been designed to bring timely, affordable, and quality healthcare closer to citizens, especially those in rural, remote, and underserved areas. Through eSanjeevani AB -AAM, patients visiting Ayushman Aarogya Mandirs receive specialist consultations without the need to travel long distances. Community Health Officers and frontline healthcare workers assist patients locally, while specialists at district hospitals and medical colleges provide expert medical advice and eprescriptions remotely. This model significantly reduces out-of-pocket expenditure, referral delays, and overcrowding at higher facilities. Complementing this, eSanjeevani OPD empowers citizens to consult qualified doctors directly from their homes via an online outpatient service. By saving time, lowering costs, and ensuring continuity of care, the platform improves health-seeking behaviour and enables early medical intervention.

As on 16 March 2026, eSanjeevani has served over 45 crores patients across the nation, of which over 57% beneficiaries are women, and around 14% beneficiaries are senior citizens. The service is operational through a vast network of 1,38,504 health facilities (spokes), supported by 18,573 hubs and 776 online OPDs, ensuring seamless access to quality healthcare even in the most remote regions. Over 2.31 lakh healthcare providers, including doctors, specialists, super-specialists, and frontline health workers, are actively using the platform to deliver consultations. The state-wise details are at Annexure.

The eSanjeevani platform has been rolled out in all States/UTs in the country and its implementation is with the States/UTs. Financial provisions are disbursed to States/UTs through the National Health Mission (NHM) Project Implementation Plans (PIPs) for enhanced provision of Teleconsultation services in rural and urban areas. Based on the proposals received in the form of Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs) under NHM. Approval is provided on the proposals in the form of Record of Proceedings (RoPs) as per norms & available resources. During the year 2024-25, a total of Rs. 222.88 Cr have been approved for teleconsultation facilities at HWCs-Rural, under the National Health Mission.

The Government has taken the following steps to improve connectivity and equipment availability in remote areas:

- i. Establishment of regional hubs at Medical colleges and CHCs/DHs, staffed with teams of doctors to support the underlying spokes. .
- ii. Allowing doctors to conduct teleconsultations in shifts, enabling them to participate alongside their regular duties. Including AYUSH practitioners for specific types of consultations, thereby expanding the pool of available healthcare providers. .
- iii. Enabling spokes to call hubs within States and Union Territories (UTs) based on the availability of doctors, thereby addressing challenges in providing teleconsultation services due to shortage of medical professionals in facilities. .
- iv. Strengthening eSanjeevani's technology infrastructure with userfriendly interfaces and Aldriven tools to enhance doctors' efficiency and reduce their workload. Additionally, eSanjeevani is compliant with the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) which enables the secure exchange of health records and ensures that teleconsultations are supported by comprehensive, patient-centric data.
- v. To address network connectivity issues, under the Digital India Programme, the Government has taken steps to improve internet connectivity and digital infrastructure across rural areas. Initatives like BharatNet are providing high-speed internet to rural India and supporting telemedicine services in some states. State Governments collaborate with telecom providers to extend broadband coverage upto the Ayushman Arogya Mandir Sub Health Centre level.
- vi. The Government conducts training and capacity building of healthcare professionals for the effective use of telemedicine technology through the eSanjeevani platform. eSanjeevan team at CDAC Mohali conducts virtual training sessions for doctors and healthcare workers to build their capacities.

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| State/UT wise details of eSanjeevani Teleconsultations   | State/UT wise details of eSanjeevani Teleconsultations   | State/UT wise details of eSanjeevani Teleconsultations   | State/UT wise details of eSanjeevani Teleconsultations   | State/UT wise details of eSanjeevani Teleconsultations   | State/UT wise details of eSanjeevani Teleconsultations   | State/UT wise details of eSanjeevani Teleconsultations   |
|----------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------|
| S. No                                                    | State/UT                                                 | Total HUBs Operational                                   | Total Spokes Operational                                 | Total Number of Consultations in eSanjeevani AAM         | Total Number of Consultations in eSanjeevani OPD         | Total Teleconsultations                                  |
| 1                                                        | Andaman And Nicobar Islands                              | 2                                                        | 67                                                       | 884                                                      | 76                                                       | 960                                                      |
| 2                                                        | Andhra Pradesh                                           | 1221                                                     | 11426                                                    | 83400598                                                 | 37046                                                    | 83437644                                                 |
| 3                                                        | Arunachal Pradesh                                        | 12                                                       | 191                                                      | 7943                                                     | 568                                                      | 8511                                                     |
| 4                                                        | Assam                                                    | 362                                                      | 3229                                                     | 3044827                                                  | 46775                                                    | 3091602                                                  |
| 5                                                        | Bihar                                                    | 53                                                       | 9542                                                     | 29464229                                                 | 123170                                                   | 29587399                                                 |
| 6                                                        | Chandigarh                                               | 5                                                        | 56                                                       | 127571                                                   | 19099                                                    | 146670                                                   |
| 7                                                        | Chhattisgarh                                             | 276                                                      | 4465                                                     | 4553016                                                  | 1260                                                     | 4554276                                                  |
| 8                                                        | Delhi                                                    | 5                                                        | 28                                                       | 3544                                                     | 77220                                                    | 80764                                                    |
| 9                                                        | Goa                                                      | 23                                                       | 99                                                       | 2841                                                     | 2200                                                     | 5041                                                     |
| 10                                                       | Gujarat                                                  | 1903                                                     | 9246                                                     | 12827731                                                 | 1018813                                                  | 13846544                                                 |
| 11                                                       | Haryana                                                  | 192                                                      | 1828                                                     | 1055845                                                  | 213600                                                   | 1269445                                                  |
| 12                                                       | Himachal Pradesh                                         | 539                                                      | 1896                                                     | 1131337                                                  | 7488                                                     | 1138825                                                  |
| 13                                                       | Jammu And Kashmir                                        | 507                                                      | 1893                                                     | 1686495                                                  | 146604                                                   | 1833099                                                  |
| 14                                                       | Jharkhand                                                | 29                                                       | 3248                                                     | 3706708                                                  | 12708                                                    | 3719416                                                  |
| 15                                                       | Karnataka                                                | 2035                                                     | 6283                                                     | 24133832                                                 | 5284439                                                  | 29418271                                                 |
| 16                                                       | Kerala                                                   | 129                                                      | 6809                                                     | 2673180                                                  | 578381                                                   | 3251561                                                  |
| 17                                                       | Ladakh                                                   | 1                                                        | 201                                                      | 155094                                                   | 79                                                       | 155173                                                   |
| 18                                                       | Lakshadweep                                              | 2                                                        | 7                                                        | 627                                                      | 0                                                        | 627                                                      |
| 19                                                       | Madhya Pradesh                                           | 177                                                      | 10147                                                    | 12186047                                                 | 7642                                                     | 12193689                                                 |
| 20                                                       | Maharashtra                                              | 1878                                                     | 9164                                                     | 12352939                                                 | 746507                                                   | 13099446                                                 |
| 21                                                       | Manipur                                                  | 27                                                       | 271                                                      | 102213                                                   | 8721                                                     | 110934                                                   |
| 22                                                       | Meghalaya                                                | 43                                                       | 549                                                      | 358219                                                   | 14                                                       | 358233                                                   |
| 23                                                       | Mizoram                                                  | 88                                                       | 296                                                      | 51560                                                    | 192                                                      | 51752                                                    |
| 24                                                       | Nagaland                                                 | 1                                                        | 230                                                      | 15598                                                    | 16                                                       | 15614                                                    |
| 25                                                       | Odisha                                                   | 481                                                      | 6543                                                     | 4921233                                                  | 416                                                      | 4921649                                                  |
| 26                                                       | Puducherry                                               | 4                                                        | 46                                                       | 6791                                                     | 46                                                       | 6837                                                     |
| 27                                                       | Punjab                                                   | 16                                                       | 1579                                                     | 914496                                                   | 4535                                                     | 919031                                                   |
| 28                                                       | Rajasthan                                                | 1893                                                     | 5296                                                     | 3006166                                                  | 113654                                                   | 3119820                                                  |
| 29                                                       | Sikkim                                                   | 26                                                       | 156                                                      | 55234                                                    | 19                                                       | 55253                                                    |
| 30                                                       | Tamil Nadu                                               | 1533                                                     | 6906                                                     | 71079590                                                 | 1748318                                                  | 72827908                                                 |
| 31                                                       | Telangana                                                | 954                                                      | 5714                                                     | 31790489                                                 | 28774                                                    | 31819263                                                 |
| 32                                                       | Dadra And Nagar Haveli And Daman AndDiu                  | 15                                                       | 72                                                       | 152094                                                   | 64                                                       | 152158                                                   |
| 33                                                       | Tripura                                                  | 117                                                      | 674                                                      | 210788                                                   | 155                                                      | 210943                                                   |
| 34                                                       | Uttar Pradesh                                            | 3948                                                     | 18594                                                    | 61096470                                                 | 1836364                                                  | 62932834                                                 |
| 35                                                       | Uttarakhand                                              | 9                                                        | 1075                                                     | 568438                                                   | 970005                                                   | 1538443                                                  |
| 36                                                       | West Bengal                                              | 67                                                       | 10678                                                    | 77082162                                                 | 13241                                                    | 77095403                                                 |