Star Health and Allied Insurance has launched 32 Arogya Seva Kendras across India as dedicated free primary healthcare centres aimed at underserved communities. The centres provide no-cost doctor consultations, basic diagnostics, preventive screenings, and medicine dispensing, with a strong focus on early detection of chronic conditions and health education to reduce long-term disease burden and out-of-pocket expenses.
Glimpse:
The 32 Arogya Seva Kendras, opened simultaneously in multiple states, offer free consultations with general physicians (and specialists on designated days), basic lab tests (blood sugar, BP, BMI, and select ECG), preventive screening for diabetes, hypertension, and common illnesses, along with free medicines for acute conditions and chronic follow-up support. Operating daily with extended hours and located in high-density low-income areas, the centres are open to all citizens regardless of insurance status and are integrated with Star Health’s wellness ecosystem to promote preventive care and early intervention.
Star Health and Allied Insurance Company Limited, India’s largest standalone health insurer by lives covered, has launched 32 Arogya Seva Kendras in a nationwide initiative to make quality primary healthcare freely accessible to millions, especially in low-income and underserved urban and semi-urban communities. The centres were inaugurated on February 26, 2026, across key locations in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Delhi-NCR, West Bengal, and Uttar Pradesh, with plans for rapid expansion in the coming months.
Each Arogya Seva Kendra is a fully equipped primary care facility staffed by qualified general physicians and trained paramedical personnel. Services include free doctor consultations, basic diagnostic tests such as blood pressure measurement, random blood sugar testing, BMI assessment, pulse oximetry, and in select centres ECG and basic haematology. The centres also conduct preventive health screenings for diabetes, hypertension, obesity, respiratory conditions, and common infectious diseases, while providing free medicines for acute illnesses and follow-up support for chronic conditions. Special outreach activities such as eye screening, dental check-ups, and women’s health camps are scheduled regularly to broaden the preventive reach.
The centres operate six to seven days a week with extended hours to accommodate working individuals and families, and are strategically located in densely populated residential areas, near slums, industrial zones, and low-income neighbourhoods to maximize accessibility. Importantly, services are available to everyone free of charge no Star Health policy is required making the initiative a pure CSR-driven effort to address the primary care access gap that often leads to delayed treatment and higher costs in India.
Dr. S. Prakash, Chairman and Managing Director of Star Health, stated during the launch that the Arogya Seva Kendras are a direct response to the high burden of preventable and manageable chronic diseases in India, where lack of early access to primary care frequently results in advanced-stage complications and financial hardship. He emphasized that by offering free consultations, diagnostics, and medicines at the community level, the centres aim to promote early detection, encourage health-seeking behaviour, and reduce the long-term economic impact of non-communicable diseases on families.
The launch has been widely welcomed by public health experts and community organizations as a meaningful private-sector contribution toward universal health coverage goals. Star Health plans to scale the network to over 100 centres by the end of 2027, continuously adding diagnostic capabilities, specialist outreach, and digital health linkages based on local needs and feedback. The initiative is expected to serve lakhs of individuals annually and serve as a model for scalable, community-based primary care delivery in India.
“Primary healthcare should never be out of reach for any Indian family. Through Arogya Seva Kendras, we are bringing free, quality care directly to communities because preventing illness today protects lives and futures tomorrow.”
By
HB Team
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