Transforming Last-Mile Healthcare Access: Mobile Medical Units under PM-JANMAN in Chhattisgarh

India has made notable progress in strengthening its public health system; however, disparities in healthcare access continue to persist, particularly in remote, forested, and tribal regions. In Chhattisgarh, about 32.6% of the population belongs to Scheduled Tribes, making it one of the most tribal-dominated states in the country. A large proportion of these communities reside in hard-to-reach, forested, and Left Wing Extremism (LWE)-affected areas, characterized by poor connectivity, scattered habitations, and limited healthcare infrastructure.

Although Sub-Centres, Primary Health Centres (PHCs), and Community Health Centres (CHCs) have been established, challenges such as difficult terrain, shortage of healthcare professionals, and transport constraints continue to hinder timely access to healthcare services.

At the national level, the disparity remains significant—while a majority of the population resides in rural areas, a large share of specialist doctors is concentrated in urban centers. This creates a pronounced urban–rural healthcare divide, which is further intensified in states like Chhattisgarh, where people often need to travel long distances even for basic consultations and diagnostic services.

To address these structural challenges, the Government of India launched the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN), with a focused mandate to improve healthcare access and overall well-being of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs). Under this initiative, Mobile Medical Units (MMUs) have been introduced as a key service delivery model to bridge last-mile gaps and ensure equitable access to healthcare for underserved populations.

These MMUs place special emphasis on maternal and child health, non-communicable disease screening, communicable disease management, and health education, thereby contributing significantly to both national and state health goals.