Finding low-cost care: India.

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Finding low-cost care: India

Handout · moraph.org/commons/sessions/reach/finding-low-cost-care

This sheet lists the kinds of low-cost care that exist, how to ask about price, and the official places to look where you live. It is general information, not medical advice.

Where to look

Community health centers and free clinics.
Clinics with sliding-scale or reduced fees.
Pharmacists and free health advice lines.
Public programs for people on low incomes.

Ask on the phone

Are you seeing new patients?
What does a visit cost, and is there a reduced fee?
What should I bring?
Can I have an interpreter?

Bring with you

Any ID or health card you have.
Proof of income, if they use a sliding scale.
A list of the medicines you take.

If it can’t wait

If it might be an emergency, call the emergency number first.
If you’re not sure where to go, call the free advice line below.

In India

Public health facilities. Under the National Health Mission’s Free Drugs Service Initiative, states get support to provide free essential medicines in public health facilities. The mission also supports free services for maternal and child health, immunisation, and diseases such as tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, malaria and dengue.
Ayushman Arogya Mandirs. Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (primary and sub-health centres) bring primary care closer to home, including care for long-term conditions and free essential medicines and diagnostic tests. Teleconsultation is available at operational centres.
Pregnancy and newborns. Under Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK), every pregnant woman is entitled to free delivery, including caesarean section, in public health institutions, with free transport, diagnostics, medicines, blood and diet. Sick infants up to one year old get free treatment, medicines, diagnostics and transport, with exemption from all user charges.
Lower-cost generic medicines. Jan Aushadhi Kendras, set up under the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana, sell generic medicines that the government says are about 50% to 80% cheaper than branded ones. The range covers all major groups of medicines, such as those for heart conditions, diabetes and infections.
Hospital care under AB PM-JAY. If your family is eligible for AB PM-JAY, treatment at empanelled hospitals is cashless, and all government hospitals with in-patient services are deemed empanelled. Empanelled hospitals cannot deny treatment to eligible beneficiaries. If you are refused, you can file a grievance, including through the call centre on 14555.

Official places to check:

Press Information Bureau (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare): www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1737183&reg=3&lang=1
Press Information Bureau (Government of India): www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2185049&reg=3&lang=1
National Health Mission (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare): nhm.gov.in/index4.php?lang=1&level=0&linkid=487&lid=758
Press Information Bureau (Department of Pharmaceuticals): www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2241166&reg=3&lang=1
Press Information Bureau (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare): www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2116209&reg=3&lang=1
Press Information Bureau (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare): www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1946710&reg=3&lang=1

More free official help in India: moraph.org/commons/help/health-access/in

General information, not advice about your own situation. Checked 20 October 2026. If an official source says something different, it is right. Free to copy and adapt. moraph.org/commons/sessions/reach/finding-low-cost-care