AP state govt approves preventive health screening for 56 lakh people

Vijayawada: Aimed at early detection and prevention of diseases, the state govt has approved a comprehensive health screening programme of people in the state. Under the initiative, the govt will test identified individuals for 47 types of diagnostic tests to each identified individual 104 mobile medical units (MMUs).The initiative, cleared by health minister Y Satya Kumar Yadav on Wednesday at an annual outlay of Rs 162.72 crore, is expected to benefit around 56.4 lakh people, including those identified as at risk in the non-communicable diseases (NCD) survey and students residing in welfare hostels in the state.Officials said the new initiative marks a shift from the existing treatment-focused model to a preventive healthcare approach. At present, 104 services conduct only six basic tests using rapid kits, often with limited diagnostic accuracy and without generating structured health records. The upgraded system will instead conduct extensive testing across 11 categories, including liver function, renal function, lipid profile, blood counts, glucose levels and electrolyte balance.A key feature of the programme is the creation of individual disease profiles and electronic health records, enabling continuous monitoring and personalised medical advice. Under the Sanjeevani framework, beneficiaries will receive guidance on immediate precautions and long-term disease prevention.As part of implementation, the service provider operating 904 MMUs will equip each vehicle with advanced diagnostic equipment such as semi-automatic biochemistry analysers, CBC machines, microscopes and incubators. Each unit is expected to screen about 20 individuals per day, covering roughly 520 people per month.Describing the initiative as a "significant step in safeguarding public health," Satya Kumar Yadav directed officials to expedite its rollout. Authorities indicated that efforts are underway to launch the programme within the next two months, making large-scale preventive healthcare accessible at the grassroots level.