ASHA Workers to Ensure Health Scan for all Above 30, Says J P Nadda

The nationwide screening drive expands India’s preventive health framework by enabling early detection of diabetes, hypertension and common cancers through community-level assessments led by ASHA workers under the Ayushman Bharat initiative.

Union Health Minister J. P. Nadda has instructed ASHA workers to conduct regular health screenings for everyone aged 30 and above.

The programme expands the scope of the Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centers by integrating community-led screening for major noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), including hypertension, Diabetes, heart disease, and common cancers.

Officials noted that early detection is a core priority, as NCDs continue to account for a significant share of India’s disease burden.

Highlighting the role of frontline health workers, Nadda stated that the ASHA workforce is uniquely positioned to reach underserved and rural populations. He remarked, “Our focus is to ensure that every individual above 30 undergoes a regular health scan, and ASHA workers are the backbone of this outreach.”

He added, “For large-scale screening to succeed, awareness must increase at the grassroots level.”

Public health specialists attending the event noted that improved screening coverage could significantly enhance early diagnosis rates and reduce the load on tertiary-care hospitals. Experts pointed out that community-based screening is particularly crucial in districts with high NCD prevalence, low health awareness, and limited diagnostic access.

The initiative aligns with the broader National Health Mission and leverages existing primary care infrastructure to scale preventive healthcare services nationwide.

Officials emphasized that the ASHA-led screening model is a scalable framework that can extend essential diagnostic access deep into remote and rural regions.

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