The government is set to roll out "free diagnostic" scheme in a phased manner across primary, secondary and tertiary care hospitals in the new year. The health ministry has written to all states asking them to start providing a basket of essential services for free to patients visiting these health centers. The scheme would be funded under the National Health Assurance Mission.
Along with the free drug distribution scheme, the government of India is set to roll out the 'free diagnostics' scheme in the new year starting from January 1. This initiative is a part of the National Health Assurance Mission (NHAM), a flagship program of the government which has promised universal health care. The diagnostic services offered under this free scheme would include blood and urine tests for chronic diseases like diabetes, for tropical diseases like malaria and dengue, HIV tests, as well as…
