Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare addressed questions regarding healthcare access in rural areas, particularly for marginalized groups. The Ministry provides support to states/UTs through the National Health Mission, focusing on strengthening public healthcare and promoting preventive measures. Initiatives include Ayushman Arogya Mandir (AAM) operationalization, screenings, and the Menstrual Hygiene Scheme (MHS). The initiatives align with WHO/UNICEF guidelines to ensure equitable and sustainable community healthcare.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **National Health Mission (NHM) Support:**
* The Ministry provides technical and financial support to States/UTs to strengthen rural public healthcare.
* Support is based on proposals received in Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs).
* Financial approval is provided as per available resources.
* **Ayushman Arogya Mandir (AAM) Operationalization:**
* 1,77,906 AAMs have been operationalized as of June 30, 2025.
* AAMs recorded over 438.54 crore footfall.
* Screenings conducted include hypertension (33.21 crore), diabetes (31.87 crore), oral cancer (29.15 crore), breast cancer (15.10 crore), and cervical cancer (7.12 crore).
* 36.64 crore teleconsultations have been conducted.
* Footfall in notified tribal districts is 46.91 crore.
* **Financial Allocations for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes:**
* Budget allocations under Development Action Plan for Scheduled Castes (DAPSC) and Scheduled Tribes (DAPST) are detailed for FY2020-21 to FY2024-25.
* **Preventive Healthcare and Health Promotion Initiatives:**
* AAM centers provide Comprehensive Primary Health Care (CPHC) through 12 expanded service packages, including Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) services.
* Yoga and wellness practices are promoted through AAMs.
* Menstrual Hygiene Scheme (MHS) is implemented to promote menstrual hygiene among adolescent girls in rural areas.
* Sanitary napkins are distributed through ASHAs.
* **Mobile Health Delivery:**
* 1,498 Mobile Medical Units (MMUs) are supported under NHM, especially for remote and underserved areas.
* Village Health, Sanitation and Nutrition Day (VHSND) serves as a platform for community health.
* eSanjeevani platform is used to provide teleconsultation services.
* **Alignment with WHO/UNICEF Guidelines:**
* Initiatives align with WHO recommendations for equitable and sustainable community healthcare.
* National Health Policy 2017.
* The Alma-Ata Declaration 1978.
Impact Analysis:
* **States/Union Territories:**
* Impact: Receive technical and financial support to strengthen rural healthcare systems and implement various health programs.
* Action Required: Develop and submit Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs) to the Ministry for financial approval and implement initiatives effectively.
* **Rural Population:**
* Impact: Improved access to healthcare services, including screenings, teleconsultations, and preventive care.
* Action Required: Utilize available healthcare facilities and participate in community health programs like VHSND and AAM activities.
* **Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Marginalized Groups:**
* Impact: Targeted efforts to improve healthcare access and address trust and awareness gaps.
* Action Required: Engage with healthcare providers and participate in health awareness programs to improve health outcomes.
* **Adolescent Girls (particularly in rural areas):**
* Impact: Increased awareness and access to menstrual hygiene products through the Menstrual Hygiene Scheme.
* Action Required: Utilize sanitary napkins distributed through ASHAs and participate in menstrual hygiene awareness programs.
* **Healthcare Providers (ASHAs, MMU staff, etc.):**
* Impact: Increased responsibility in delivering healthcare services and promoting health awareness at the community level.
* Action Required: Implement health programs effectively, conduct screenings, distribute sanitary napkins, and provide teleconsultation services.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare: The Indian government ministry responsible for health policy.
National Health Mission: A centrally sponsored scheme of the Indian government to address the health needs of under-served rural areas.
Ayushman Arogya Mandir: A network of health and wellness centers in India providing comprehensive primary healthcare.
Scheduled Castes: A group of historically disadvantaged communities in India recognized by the government.
Scheduled Tribes: A group of indigenous communities in India recognized by the government.
Universal Health Coverage: A healthcare system that ensures all citizens have access to quality health services without financial hardship.
WHOUNICEF: World Health Organization and United Nations Children's Fund
National Health Policy 2017: The health policy document published by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India in 2017.
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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