Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare addressed questions regarding the Free Drugs and Diagnostics Service Initiative and other health programs in Uttar Pradesh. The response details funding and implementation of free drug and diagnostic services, operational Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs), key health indicators, and the provision of sanitary napkins to adolescent girls. Data is reported up to July 15, 2025, for AAMs, while other data covers different reporting periods.
Key Points / Main Content:
Free Drugs and Diagnostics Service Initiative:
* Financial support is provided to Uttar Pradesh under the National Health Mission (NHM) for free essential medicines and diagnostics at public health facilities, based on the state's Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs).
* The Ministry recommends a facility-wise Essential Drugs List (EDL) for widespread access to essential medicines.
* The Free Diagnostics Service Initiative (FDSI) aims to provide accessible and affordable pathological and radiological diagnostic services to reduce out-of-pocket expenditure.
* Recommended number of essential medicines and diagnostics services at health facilities:
* District Hospitals (DHs): 381 medicines, 134 diagnostics
* Sub-District Hospitals (SDHs): 318 medicines, 111 diagnostics
* Community Health Centres (CHCs): 300 medicines, 97 diagnostics
* AAM/PHC: 172 medicines, 63 diagnostics
* AAM-Sub Centre: 106 medicines, 14 diagnostics
* Funds for these initiatives are approved under NHM Record of Proceeding (ROP) as per the PIP submitted by the State.
Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs):
* 22,999 AAMs have been operationalized in Uttar Pradesh as of July 15, 2025.
* The total budget for AAM functioning under NHM is approved under NHM ROP as per the State's PIP.
Health Indicators:
* As per the Sample Registration System (SRS) 2020-22, the Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) in Uttar Pradesh is 141 per lakh live births.
* The Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) is 38 per 1000 live births in Uttar Pradesh.
* The Total Fertility Rate (TFR) as per NFHS-5 (2019-21) is 2.4 in Uttar Pradesh.
Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK) / Menstrual Hygiene Scheme (MHS):
* The Menstrual Hygiene Scheme (MHS) promotes menstrual hygiene among adolescent girls aged 10-19 years.
* During 2024-25, 94,279 adolescent girls received sanitary napkins each month.
* District-wise data is not maintained at the national level.
Impact Analysis
State Governments (Uttar Pradesh):
Impact: The state government receives financial support and guidelines for implementing various health initiatives, including free drug and diagnostic services and AAM operations. The state is also responsible for addressing high MMR, IMR, and TFR rates.
Action Required: Prepare and submit Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs) to access funding under NHM. Monitor and improve key health indicators (MMR, IMR, TFR).
Public Health Facilities (PHCs, CHCs, SDHs, District Hospitals, AAMs):
Impact: These facilities are the primary implementers of the Free Drugs and Diagnostics Service Initiative and provide essential healthcare services.
Action Required: Ensure the availability of essential medicines and diagnostics as per the recommended lists. Operationalize and maintain AAMs to provide comprehensive primary healthcare.
Adolescent Girls (Aged 10-19 years):
Impact: Beneficiaries of the Menstrual Hygiene Scheme (MHS) receive sanitary napkins to promote menstrual hygiene.
Action Required: Utilize the sanitary napkins provided and adopt healthy menstrual hygiene practices.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare:
Impact: Responsible for providing financial support, setting guidelines, and monitoring the implementation of health programs across states and union territories, including Uttar Pradesh.
Action Required: Continue to provide financial support and technical assistance to states/UTs. Monitor the progress and outcomes of the implemented programs.
Key Entities Referenced
Uttar Pradesh: A state in India, the primary focus of the question regarding health initiatives.
National Health Mission (NHM): A centrally sponsored scheme providing financial support to states/UTs for healthcare initiatives.
Free Drugs Service Initiative: An initiative under which the Ministry has recommended facility wise Essential Drugs List EDLto be made available at the public healthcare facilities.
Free Diagnostics Service Initiative (FDSI): A program under NHM to provide accessible and affordable pathological and radiological diagnostics services.
Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs): Formerly known as Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres (AB HWCs), these are health facilities being operationalized in Uttar Pradesh.
Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR): A key health indicator measuring the number of maternal deaths per lakh live births.
Infant Mortality Rate (IMR): A key health indicator measuring the number of deaths of infants per thousand live births.
Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK): A health program under which sanitary napkins are provided to adolescent girls.
GOVERNMENTOFINDIA
MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 2207
TOBE ANSWERED ON1st AUGUST,2025
FREE DRUGS AND DIAGNOSTICS SERVICE INITIATIVE IN UTTAR
PRADESH
2207. SHRI PUSHPENDRA SAROJ:
MS IQRACHOUDHARY:
Will the Ministerof HEALTH ANDFAMILYWELFAREbe pleased tostate:
(a) the number of Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Community Health Centres
(CHCs), Sub-District Hospitals (SDHs) and district hospitals in Uttar Pradesh
implementing the Free Drugs Service Initiative and Free Diagnostic Service Initiative
district-wise along with the amount of funds sanctioned and disbursed to the State
under the same;
(b) the number of operational Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs) in Uttar Pradesh
and the totalamount of funds sanctionedanddisbursed for theirfunctioning;
(c) the districts in Uttar Pradesh where Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) remains
above 87 per lakh, Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) exceeds 22 per thousand and Total
Fertility Rate (TFR)isabove 2.0; and
(d) the percentage of adolescent girls who are provided sanitary napkins monthly
under Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK), district-wise?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH & FAMILY
WELFARE
(SHRIPRATAPRAO JADHAV)
(a): Under National HealthMission (NHM), financialsupport is providedtoall States
/ UTs including Uttar Pradesh for provision of free essential medicines & free
essential diagnostics in public health facilities based on the requirements posed by
States/UTs in their Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs) within their overall
resource envelope. Under Free Drugs Service Initiative, Ministry has recommended
facility wise Essential Drugs List (EDL)to be made available at the public healthcare
facilities inthe countrytoensure widespread accesstoessential medicines.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India supports ‘Free
Diagnostics Service Initiative’ (FDSI) programme under NHM. The programme was
launched with the aim to provide accessible and affordable pathological and
radiological diagnostics services closer to the community which in turn reduces the
Out-of-Pocket Expenditure (OOPE). The number of medicine and Diagnosticsservices recommendedat these health facilitiesin the countryincludingUttar Pradesh
are givenasbelow.However, Stateshave the flexibility toaddmore.
Sr.No. Name of No. of No. of
Facilities essential Diagnostics
Medicine
1 DHs 381 134
2 SDHs 318 111
3 CHCs 300 97
4 AAM-PHC 172 63
5 AAM-Sub 106 14
Centre
The amount of funds sanctioned for free drugs and diagnostics service initiatives are
approved under NHM Record of Proceeding (ROP) as per PIP submitted by the
State/UTs.
(b): As reported by States/UTs on AAM portal, a total of 22999 Ayushman Arogya
Mandirs (AAMs) [erstwhile Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres (AB-
HWCs)] have been operationalized inUttar Pradesh, till 15.07.2025.The total budget
for functioning of the AAMs under NHM is approved under NHM ROP as per PIP
submitted bythe State/UTs.
(c): As per SRS (Sample Registration system) 2020-22, Maternal Mortality Ratio
(MMR) is 141 per lakh live birth, Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) is 38 per 1000 live
birth in Uttar Pradesh. Total Fertility rate (TFR) as per NFHS-5 (National Family
Health Survey)2019-21 is2.4inUttar Pradesh.
(d): The Government is implementing the ‘Menstrual Hygiene Scheme’ (MHS)
under the National Health Mission (NHM) to promote menstrual hygiene among
adolescent girls aged 10–19 years. Funds are provided to States/UTs based on the
proposals in their Annual Programme Implementation Plans. As per reports available
on the Health Management Information System (HMIS), during 2024–25, a total of
94,279 adolescent girls received sanitary napkins each month. District-wise data is
not maintainedat the National level.
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