The Union Government has expanded healthcare delivery in tribal, remote and hard-to-reach areas through infrastructure upgrades, relaxed service norms, mobile care units and digital health systems. The focus is on improving access to primary care, emergency services and specialist consultation for underserved populations under the National Health Mission and allied schemes.
Ayushman Arogya Mandirs
A total of 1.82 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs have been established nationwide by upgrading Sub-Health Centres and Primary Health Centres. These centres provide preventive, promotive, curative, rehabilitative and palliative services. Of these, 30,817 are operational in 178 tribal districts, improving local access to comprehensive primary healthcare.
Relaxed Norms for Difficult Areas
NHM norms have been relaxed for tribal, hilly and hard-to-reach regions to improve physical access to care. Population thresholds for setting up Sub-Health Centres, Primary Health Centres and Community Health Centres have been reduced. ASHA deployment has been enhanced to one per habitation. Up to four Mobile Medical Units per district are permitted in such areas, compared with two in plain districts.
Infrastructure and Critical Care Support
Under the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission, with an outlay of ₹64,180 crore, health system infrastructure is being strengthened. So far, 168 Integrated Public Health Laboratories and 110 Critical Care Hospital Blocks have been approved in tribal districts. These facilities are intended to improve diagnostics, emergency response and critical care capacity.
Digital Health and Outreach Services
Telemedicine has become a major tool for bridging healthcare gaps in remote regions. Teleconsultation services are available at all operational Ayushman Arogya Mandirs. As of 31 December 2025, 42.66 crore teleconsultations had been conducted nationwide through these centres. Mobile Medical Units also remain important for inaccessible villages, with 1,477 MMUs deployed across the country as of 30 June 2025. Under PM-JANMAN, up to 10 MMUs per district are allowed in PVTG areas.
Last Modified: April 27, 2026