Parliament Question: Preventive Healthcare Teste

GOVERNMENT OFINDIA MINISTRYOFHEALTHAND FAMILYWELFARE DEPARTMENT OFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE LOK SABHA UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 1030 TO BE ANSWERED ON05thDECEMBER, 2025 PREVENTIVE HEALTHCARETESTE †1030.SHRITRIVENDRASINGH RAWAT:

Will the Ministerof HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate:

(a)whether the Government proposes tolaunch a national-levelscheme toprovide preventive healthcareinrural andremote areasandif so, the detailsthereof;

(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 dentalproblemsandif 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 andif not,the reasons therefor;

(d) the steps taken/proposed tobe taken bythe Government inthisregard; and

(e)whether the Government hasanyplan infuture inthisregardandif so, the detailsthereof? ANSWER THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRIPRATAPRAO 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 providingpreventive,promotive, palliative,rehabilitativeand curative care.

Through Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs), comprehensive primary healthcare (CPHC) is provided bystrengthening Sub Health Centres (SHCs) andPrimary 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 andother healthissues. As reportedbyStates/UTs on AAM portal,a totalof 1,80,906AAMshavebeenoperationalizedinIndia,till31.10.2025.Wellness-related activities like Yoga, cycling, and meditation are conducted in AAMs. As on 31.10.2025, 6.37 crore wellness sessions includingYoga, have beenconductedat AAMs.

Under Free Diagnostics Service Initiative, Government of India provides financial support to 1States/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) and134tests at District Hospitals (DHs)).Thelist oftests available

at the public healthcare facilities is as per link: https://nhsrcindia.org/sites/default/files/2021- 07/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 hasbeen rolled out inthe countryunder National HealthMission (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 helpsinbetter managementof 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 Cancerhave been carried out at all health facilities asperNP-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 topublic healthcare.Atotalof 1,540 MMUs are supported under NHM tothe 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 areasacross the country, which include:

i. Hard Area Allowance to specialist doctors for serving in rural and remote areas so thattheyfind it attractive toserve inpublic healthfacilities insuch areas. ii. States are also allowed to offer negotiable salary to attract specialist including flexibilityinstrategies such as “YouQuote 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 beenintroducedunder 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) andLife SavingAnaesthesia Skills(LSAS). ***** 2