Free Diagnostics Scheme under National Health Mission

Public health being a State subject, the primary responsibility for providing affordable and quality health services to the population lies with the State Governments. Under the National Health Mission (NHM), States are already being supported for implementing free diagnostics initiative. Guidelines for operationalising the Free Diagnostics Initiative have also been shared with the States on 2nd July, 2015.

The Government is already providing support to States/ UTs under NHM for provision of a basket of free services for maternal health, child health, adolescent health, family planning, universal immunisation, and for major diseases such as TB, vector borne diseases such as Malaria, dengue and Kala Azar, leprosy etc. Other major initiatives for which states are being supported include Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK), Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK), Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK), National Health Mission Free Drugs and Free Diagnostics Service Initiatives etc. Support is also being provided to the States for roll out of Universal Health Coverage pilots.

The Health Minister, Shri J P Nadda stated this in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha here today.