New Delhi: In an effort to take healthcare to door step of the public in rural areas, especially in underserved areas, the Government of India has approved mobile medical units (MMUs) at one MMU per district under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM).

In a written communication to the Lok Sabha, the Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Panabaaka Lakshmi informed that two kinds of MMUs are envisaged, one with diagnostic facilities for the states other than North-Eastern states, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir (J&K).

In addition, for these states, specialised facilities and services such as X ray, ECG and ultra-sound have been proposed to be provided due to their difficult hilly terrain, non-approachability by public transport and long distances to be covered.

The states are, however, expected to address the diversity and ensure the adoption of most suitable and sustainable model for MMUs to suit their local requirements, the Minister said.

Lakshmi said that the funds are released to states and union territories (UTs) as per their requirements in their respective annual NRHM programme implementation plans.

She further informed that pathology labs facility is available at the level of Primary Health Centre and Community Health Centres, which are established in rural areas as per population norms.
—iGovernment Bureau