**Executive Summary**
This document is the answer given by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to Unstarred Question No. 1151 in Lok Sabha on February 6, 2026. The question pertains to the adequacy and accessibility of health infrastructure for tribal communities. The answer provides details on the availability of healthcare facilities and initiatives, along with coordination mechanisms between the Ministries of Tribal Affairs and Health and Family Welfare.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Health Infrastructure Overview:**
* Health Dynamics of India (HDI) provides annual state/UT-wise data on health infrastructure, including tribal and remote areas. The HDI 2022-23 report is available via a provided link.
* The National Health Mission (NHM) supports improvements in health infrastructure, human resources, and quality healthcare access, particularly in remote and desert areas.
* The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare offers technical and financial support to states/UTs based on proposals received under NHM.
* **Mobile Medical Units (MMUs) and Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs):**
* NHM supports MMUs for outreach services in underserved remote villages. 1,477 MMUs were deployed as of 30.06.2025.
* 1.82 lakh AAMs have been established, including 30,817 AAMs in 178 tribal districts, offering comprehensive primary healthcare.
* Teleconsultation services are available at all operational AAMs, with 42.66 crore teleconsultations conducted as of 31.12.2025.
* **Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM):**
* PM-ABHIM, with a Rs.64,180 crore outlay, aims to support infrastructure development, including Sub-Health Centres, Urban Health and Wellness Centres, Block Public Health Units, Integrated District Public Health Laboratories (IPHLs), and Critical Care Hospital Blocks (CCBs).
* 168 IPHL and 110 CCBs have been approved in tribal districts under PM-ABHIM.
* **Relaxed Norms and Additional Support:**
* NHM norms are relaxed for tribal/hilly/hard-to-reach areas to improve healthcare access, including reduced population criteria for setting up health centers.
* One ASHA is allowed per habitation in these areas, and up to 4 MMUs per district are permitted.
* Under the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN), up to 10 MMUs per district with PVTG areas are provided.
* Relaxed norms for one additional ANM for each Multi Purpose Centre (MPC) constructed by MoTA.
* 763 MMUs are operational under PM-JANMAN and 155 MMUs under DA-JGUA for basic health services in tribal areas till 31.12.2025.
* **Coordination and Data Collection:**
* Coordination mechanisms exist between the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, as well as with State Health Departments, for planning, funding and implementation of tribal health programmes.
* Various mechanisms and survey agencies generate data on tribal healthcare on a periodic basis.
* The National Family Health Survey (NFHS) provides details on major health indicators and outcomes, including improvements in maternal and child health.
* Census of India provides population and household details, and the National Sample Survey provides household surveys.
**Impact Analysis**
**Ministry of Health and Family Welfare & State Health Departments**
* **Impact:** Responsible for the implementation and monitoring of the various healthcare programs and initiatives mentioned in the document.
* **Action Required:** Ensure effective coordination with the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, allocate resources, and strengthen healthcare delivery in tribal areas as per the guidelines and norms specified.
**Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA)**
* **Impact:** Collaborates with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for planning, funding, and implementing tribal health programs.
* **Action Required:** Coordinate with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and State Health Departments to ensure effective planning and implementation of healthcare programs specifically designed for tribal communities.
**Tribal Communities**
* **Impact:** Intended beneficiaries of the health infrastructure and services discussed in the document. They will potentially have improved access to healthcare facilities, including MMUs, AAMs, and teleconsultation services.
* **Action Required:** Utilize the available healthcare services and facilities to improve their health outcomes.
**Health Workers (ASHAs, ANMs)**
* **Impact:** Play a critical role in delivering healthcare services at the grassroots level in tribal areas. The document acknowledges the need for additional resources and relaxed norms to support their work.
* **Action Required:** Continue to provide essential healthcare services to tribal communities, utilizing the additional resources and support provided under the NHM and other programs.
Key Entities Referenced
National Health Mission (NHM): A program providing support for improving health infrastructure, human resources, and accessibility to quality health care, especially in remote and tribal areas.
Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM): A mission focused on developing health infrastructure including Sub-Health Centres, Urban Health and Wellness Centres, Integrated District Public Health Laboratories (IPHLs) and Critical Care Hospital Blocks (CCBs) with specific provisions for tribal districts.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare: The central ministry responsible for planning, funding, and implementing health programs, providing technical and financial support to states/UTs, particularly in tribal areas.
Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA): The central ministry responsible for the welfare of tribal populations, coordinating with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for planning, funding, and implementation of tribal health programs.
Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs): Health and wellness centers established and operationalized across the country, including a substantial number in tribal districts, providing comprehensive primary healthcare services.
GOVERNMENT OFINDIA
MINISTRYOFHEALTHAND FAMILYWELFARE
DEPARTMENT OFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 1151
TOBE ANSWERED ON6thFEBRUARY,2026
HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE FORTRIBALCOMMUNITIES
1151.SHRIUMMEDARAM BENIWAL:
Will the Ministerof HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate:
(a) whether the Government has assessed the adequacy and accessibility of health
infrastructure for tribal communities residing indesert and geographicallyremote areas of the
country, if so, the detailsthereof;
(b) the details regardingavailability andoperationalstatus of Mobile Medical Units (MMUs),
telemedicine facilities and primary healthcare services in such tribal regions of the country,
Statewise;
(c) whether any formal coordination mechanism exists between the Ministry of Tribal Affairs
and State Health Departments for planning, funding and implementation of tribal health
programmesinthe country, if so, the detailsthereof; and
(d) the outcomes achieved under various tribal health initiatives during the last five years,
including improvements in maternal and child health indicators, disease prevention and
reduction in healthcare access gaps among desert-dwelling tribal populations across the
country?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILY
WELFARE
(SHRIPRATAPRAO JADHAV)
(a) to(d): Health Dynamicsof India (HDI) (Infrastructure & Human Resources), isan annual
publication, based on healthcare administrative data reported by States/UTs. Details of
availability of health infrastructure across the country including in tribal and remote areas,
State/UT-wise, maybe seen at the following linkof HDI 2022-23:
https://mohfw.gov.in/sites/default/files/Health%20Dynamics%20of%20India%20%28Infrastr
ucture%20%26%20Human%20Resources%29%202022-23_RE%20%281%29.pdf
The National Health Mission (NHM) provides support for improvement in health
infrastructure, availability of adequate human resources in health facilities, to improve
availability, affordability and accessibility to quality health care in the country including
desert and geographically remote areas. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare provides
technical and financial support to the States/UTs to strengthen the public healthcare system,
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 Recordof Proceedings(RoPs) aspernorms & available resources.
Mobile Medical Units (MMUs) are supported under NHM to provide outreach services in
remote villages with difficult terrain which are underserved and inaccessible. As per NHM-
MIS report,a totalof 1477MMUs have beendeployed across the country,ason30.06.2025.
A total of 1.82 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs) have been established and
operationalized in the country, including 30,817 AAMs in 178 tribal districts, which deliver
expanded range of comprehensive primary healthcare services encompassing preventive,
promotive,palliative, rehabilitative,andcurative care.
The teleconsultation services, available at all operational AAMs across the country including
tribal regions, enablespeople toaccessthe specialist services closer totheirhomes addressing
concernsof physical accessibility, shortage of service providersandtofacilitate continuumof
care.Total teleconsultationsconductedat AAMsare 42.66 crore, ason31.12.2025.
The Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) with an
outlay of Rs.64,180 crore aims to provide support for infrastructure development for Sub-
Health Centres, Urban Health and Wellness Centres, Support for Block Public Health Units,
Integrated District Public Health Laboratories (IPHLs) and Critical Care Hospital Blocks
(CCBs) in the country. 168 IPHL and 110 CCBs have been approved in the tribal districts
underPM-ABHIM.
Under NHM, norms have been relaxed for tribal/hilly/hard-to-reach areas to strengthen
healthcare access. Population criteria for setting up of Sub Health Centres (SHCs), Primary
Health Centres (PHCs) and Community Health Centres (CHCs) have been reduced to 3,000,
20,000 and 80,000 respectively. One Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) is allowed
perhabitationinstead of per1,000population,andupto4Mobile Medical Units (MMUs) per
district are permitted intribal andhard-to-reachareas, comparedto 2inplaindistricts.
Coordination mechanisms exist between the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) and the
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, as well as with State Health Departments, for
planning, funding and implementation of tribal health programmes. Under the Pradhan
Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN), launched on 15th November,
2023 by MoTA, further relaxation in NHM norms has been provided up to 10 MMUs per
district with Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG) areas. Norms have been relaxed
for one additional Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM) for each Multi Purpose Centre (MPC)
constructed byMoTA. As perMMU portal,763MMUs underPM-JANMAN and155MMUs
under Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DA-JGUA) are operational across the
countryfor providingbasic health services intribal areastill 31.12.2025.
There are various mechanisms and survey agencies which generate data on tribal healthcare
on a periodic basis. National Family Health Survey (NFHS) provides details on major health
indicators and outcomes achieved under various tribal health initiatives including
improvements in maternal and child health indicators among Scheduled tribes. Census ofIndia provides population and household details including Tribal areas. National Sample
Survey provides household surveys on various socio-economic subjects. The State-wise list
of keyindicatorsNFHS-5maybe extractedfrom belowmentionedlink:
http://rchiips.org/nfhs/districtfactsheet_NFHS-5.shtml
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