Nishulk Swasthya Jaanch Yojana - Uttarakhand

Why was Nishulk Swasthya Jaanch Yojana Introduced

Prior to Nishulk Swasthya Jaanch Yojana, routine tests were extremely costly for the people of Uttarakhand, specifically for those in poverty and rural areas, making them spend out-of-pocket expenses due to the high costs of Lab testing. While traditional health insurance policies cover major hospitalisation costs, most ignore routine diagnostic expenses.

In order to address this problem, the government started this scheme via the National Health Mission (PPP model). It provides totally free of cost, up to 266 routine pathology and diagnostic tests at all public health care centres, including PHC and District Hospitals. Despite major health schemes in the nation that provide coverage of major treatments, most of them ignore the expense of routine tests.

Nishulk Swasthya Jaanch Yojana- Key Highlights

Who is Eligible for Nishulk Swasthya Jaanch Yojana

To get free tests from this program, the candidate should fulfil the following requirements:

• Residency: Permanent residents of Uttarakhand are eligible; non-residents are excluded.
• Facility Type: Valid only at state-run public healthcare facilities; private hospitals and private labs are excluded.
• Prescription Requirement: Must have an official referral or prescription from a government doctor; self-requested tests are excluded.
• Digital Health Identification: Patients who create ABHA Health ID credentials or link their existing ABHA Card profile can seamlessly access and store their diagnostic records digitally across empanelled facilities.

Who is Not Eligible for Nishulk Swasthya Jaanch Yojana

• Non-Residents: People who are not residents of Uttarakhand.
• Private Healthcare Facility Visits: People who visit private hospitals, clinics, and laboratories (since the program can only be used at the state government health care centres).
• Unprescribed Tests: People who do not have prescriptions for the tests from their doctors at the government health care centres.
• Unregistered People: People who do not get themselves registered at the government hospitals before asking for the test.

What Nishulk Swasthya Jaanch Yojana Covers

The Nishulk Swasthya Jaanch Yojana in Uttarakhand gives comprehensive and free diagnostic as well as lab test services for the patients visiting public health care centres in Uttarakhand.

Covered Facilities

The free testing facilities are available across multiple tiers of government health institutions:

• Primary Health Centres (PHCs - Urban and Rural)
• Community Health Centres (CHCs)
• Sub-District Hospitals
• District Hospitals
• Government Medical Colleges

Scope of Diagnostic Services

The scheme covers up to 266 diagnostic and pathology tests in total. Key categories include:

• Haematology: Complete Blood Count (CBC), haemoglobin, blood grouping, ESR, and clotting profiles.
• Bio-Chemistry: Blood glucose (diabetes), kidney function tests (KFT), liver function tests (LFT), lipid profiles, and uric acid.
• Hormone & Vitamin Profiles: Thyroid function tests (T3, T4, TSH), Vitamin B-12, and Vitamin D-3 (offered at higher-tier district/sub-district facilities).
• Immunology & Serology: Infectious disease screenings (HIV, Hepatitis B/C, Dengue, Typhoid, Malaria, and Syphilis).
• Tumour Markers & Biopsies: Basic cancer screening markers and tissue pathology/biopsies.
• Basic Radiology & Imaging: Essential X-rays and electrocardiograms (ECG) provided directly through empanelled public-private partnership (PPP) health labs.

What Nishulk Swasthya Jaanch Yojana Does Not Cover

• Diagnostic Tests Performed at Private Hospitals/Lab: Any kind of diagnostic test, blood or any other lab test, scan or imaging done in private hospitals, private lab or unempanelled private hospitals/lab is excluded from coverage.
• High-Level Diagnostic Tests: High-level diagnostic procedures like MRI, PET Scan, CT scan or special nuclear medicine tests beyond the basic diagnostic procedures and lab tests of the 266 path lab list.
• Certain Specialised Tests at PHC/CHC Level: Some special diagnostic tests, like the test of Vitamin B-12 and D-3, are not available at the Primary Health Centre (PHC) and Community Health Centre (CHC).

Documents Required to Apply for Swasthya Jaanch Yojana

In order to access free diagnostic tests under the scheme, patients must present the following documents at the government healthcare facility:

• Identity Proof: A valid government-issued photo ID (e.g., Aadhaar Card) to confirm identity and residency in Uttarakhand.
• Doctor's Prescription / Referral Slip: An official test prescription or referral slip issued by an attending doctor at a state government hospital, CHC, or PHC.
• Hospital Registration Slip: The OPD or patient registration receipt generated at the government health centre during the visit.
• ABHA Card: While it is not mandatory for diagnostic registration, carrying a ABHA Card helps stream OPD registration and links test reports directly to personal digital Health Insurance accounts.

How to Apply Step by Step

There is no need to go through complicated online registration or an additional application portal for the Nishulk Swasthya Jaanch Yojana scheme. One can get a free diagnosis done through any government healthcare facility in Uttarakhand by taking the following measures:

• Step 1: Visit the Facility

  Walk into any state PHC, CHC, Sub-District, or District Hospital.

• Step 2: Doctor Consultation

  Get examined by an attending physician to receive an official test prescription.

• Step 3: OPD Registration

  Go to the registration counter to get your registration slip.

• Step 4: Submission of Sample

  Take your prescription and Aadhaar Card to the lab counter of the hospital.

• Step 5: Collection of Report

  Collect physical test reports from the lab counter or get SMS updates on the reports.

Helpline and Support

Other Government Schemes

• Atal Ayushman Uttarakhand Yojana (AAUY): Provides universal health coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per family per year for cashless hospitalisation across empanelled public and private hospitals.
• Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY): Accidental Insurance that offers cover of Rs. 2 lakhs in case of accidental death and total disability, and Rs. 1 lakh in case of partial disability.
• Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK): Guarantees completely free healthcare services including free medicines, diagnostics, blood transfusions, and diet for pregnant women and sick infants.
• Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY): Central Life Insurance scheme that offers cover of Rs. 2 lakhs in case of death due to any reason.
• Nirogi Haryana: a flagship preventive health care program introduced by the Government of Haryana through the Mukhyamantri Muft Ilaj Yojana, providing health screening and treatment facilities.
• Central Government Health Scheme(CGHS): A comprehensive health care program implemented by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare in respect of Central Government employees and retired employees.

Other Government Schemes of Uttrakhand

• State Government Health Scheme (SGHS/Golden Card Scheme): Covers unlimited medical treatment on a cashless basis to all state government servants, pensioners, and their dependents in the empaneled hospitals all over India through digital Golden Card.
• Mukhyamantri Swasthya Bima Yojana (MSBY): Cashless insurance scheme providing an annual coverage of up to ₹1.25 lakh per family for health care of the poor and vulnerable families, covering secondary hospitalization and surgery among other diseases.
• Free Drugs Scheme: The State Health Insurance Scheme that provides thousands of essential medicines and surgical instruments, generic drugs, free of cost in public health institutions.
• eSwasthya Dham: A functional digital health portal that facilitates efficient healthcare management in the state. This facility plays an active role during the Char Dham Yatra wherein the pilgrims can create their 14-digit Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) cards.
• Khushiyon-Ki-sawari-Sewa: healthcare initiative launched by Uttrakhand government that provides free ambulance transportation for pregnant women, post-delivery mothers, and sick newborns.