Parliament Question: Use of Healthcare Facilities in Rural Areas

GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE LOK SABHA UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 999 TO BE ANSWERED ON25.07.2025 USEOFHEALTHCARE FACILITIES IN RURALAREAS

999. DR PRABHAMALLIKARJUN:

Will the Ministerof HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate:

(a) whether the Government is aware that only 65% of rural households use improved healthcareservices despite infrastructure availability, if so, the detailsthereof;

(b) whether it is true that uptake is significantly lower among Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes andothermarginalised groups due totrust andawareness gaps, if so, the detailsthereof;

(c) whether the Government has partnered with CSR-led initiatives like NTPC Foundation, Hyundai’s SparshSanjeevani andVedanta’sSEHATcampsto improve inclusive access, if so, the detailsthereof;

(d) whether steps are being taken to promote preventive healthcare, menstrual hygiene awareness,andmobile healthdelivery,especiallyinunderserved regions,ifso,thedetailsthereof; and

(e) the initiatives being undertaken by the Government to ensure locally trusted, equitable, andsustainable community healthcareinline with WHO-UNICEF guideline ANSWER THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE (SHRIPRATAPRAO JADHAV)

(a)& (b): Under the National Health Mission, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare provides technical and financial support to the States/UTs to strengthen the public healthcare system in rural areas based on the proposals received in the form of Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs) under National Health Mission. Government of India provides financial approval for the proposal inthe form of Recordof Proceedings (RoPs) aspernorms& availableresources.As reported by the States/UTs on the Ayushman Arogya Mandir (AAM) Portal, total 1,77,906 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAM) have beenoperationalized till 30th June, 2025 with more than 438.54 crore footfall including Schedule castes recorded on these AAMs. As on

30.06.2025, 33.21 crore hypertension screenings, 31.87 crore diabetes screenings , 29.15 crore oral cancer screenings, 15.10 crore breast cancer screenings, 7.12 crore cervical cancer screenings and36.64crore teleconsultations have beenconducted.

As on 30th June 2025, the footfall at Ayushman Arogya Mandir (AAM) in notified tribal district is46.91crore.

The Statement showing Budget and Expenditure under schemes for Development Action Plan of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (DAPSC/DAPST) for FY2020-21 to2024-25 in

DoHFWare asunder: (Rs. inCrore) (%)Allocation under DAPST (%)Allocation under DAPSCallocation Year DAPSC(Scheme allocation DAPST(Scheme Budget) Budget) 2020-21 8300 16.7 4300 8.7 2021-22 8938 16.7 4634 8.7 2022-23 10424 16.6 5401 8.6 2023-24 9324 16.6 4830 8.6 2024-25 9158 16.6 4745 8.6

(c)& (d): The Government of India and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

(MoHFW) isactively undertaking several initiatives to promote preventive healthcare, menstrual hygiene awareness, and mobile health delivery, particularly in underserved and remote areas, underthe broadervision of Universal Health Coverage (UHC):

 AAM centres aim to provide Comprehensive Primary Health Care (CPHC) through 12 expanded packages of services including Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) services as well as health promotion through community outreach and wellness activities including of all Maternal health,FamilyPlanning, Neonatal,Adolescent andChild healthprogram. Emphasisisalso placedon promoting Yoga andwellness practicesthrough the AAM aspart of preventive and promotive healthcare. Activities include daily and weekly Yoga sessions at AAM, celebration of International Day of Yoga with community participation.

Involvementof YogaInstructor inpromotionof Yoga inalltypesof AAM.  Under the Menstrual Hygiene Scheme (MHS) of MoHFW, menstrual hygiene promotion among adolescent girls (particularly in rural areas) is being implemented. Key features include Distribution of sanitary napkinsthrough ASHAs.

 Under the National Health Mission (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 to public healthcare. A total of 1,498 MMUs are supported underNHMto the States.

 Village Health,SanitationandNutrition Day (VHSND) platform,functioning monthlyat the village level,serves asa keytouchpointfor community healthasa Preventivecare services  Additionally, digital platforms such as e-Sanjeevani platform to provide teleconsultation services to strengthen digital healthcare and improve accessibility especially in rural and underserved areas)

(e): The initiatives are undertaken by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India reflect a strong policy alignment with WHO recommendations to ensure locally trusted, equitable and sustainable community healthcare under National Health Mission and aligned to the National Health Policy 2017. The Alma-Ata Declaration (1978) established primary health care (PHC),community participation, andappropriate technology asthe foundationfor equitable health systems—a cornerstone for subsequent WHO guidance on workforce and community- based approaches.

The guidelines, developed in consonance to WHO-UNICEF guidelines, when implemented in locally contextualised manner by the States, is expected to bring forth an equitable and sustainable healthcare for the community.

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