Parliament Question: Free annual full body health checkups for citizens

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 432 TO BE ANSWERED ON 3RD FEBRUARY, 2026 FREE ANNUAL FULL BODY HEALTH CHECKUPS FOR CITIZENS 432. SHRI SANT BALBIR SINGH: Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state: (a) considering that a significant number of deaths in the country are attributed to unknown causes or undiagnosed diseases, whether Government have any policy under which all citizens, especially those from economically weaker sections, can avail of free annual full body health checkups; (b) if such a scheme exists, the details thereof and how a common person can avail the service through Government hospitals or health camps; and (c) if no such scheme exists yet, whether the Ministry is working on launching any preventive health screening program at the national level to help detect life-threatening diseases early and reduce mortality? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV) (a) to (c): Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) is undertaking several initiatives to promote preventive healthcare under the broader vision of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) for all including economically weaker sections. The National Health Mission (NHM) is a 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 1,82,944 AAMs have been operationalized in India, till 31.12.2025. 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 1SHC-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)]. 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 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 to reduce mortality. Under the NP-NCD programme, till December, 2025, 40.13 crore screenings for Hypertension, 39.86 crore screenings for Diabetes, 33.83 crore screenings for Oral cancer, 15.86 crore screenings for Breast cancer and 8.44 crore screenings for Cervical cancer have been conducted at primary health facilities including AAMs. Since September 2023, Weekly Ayushman Melas/health camps at AAMs & CHCs have been organized by the States/UTs under Ayushman Bhav Campaign with an aim to provide health care services. To take the momentum forward, from FY 2024-25 onwards, the melas have been institutionalized through monthly fixed day outreach services, namely Ayushman Arogya Shivir. ***** 2