By: IPP Bureau
Last updated : August 27, 2026 10:58 am
Field data indicates that joint and body pain and other musculoskeletal conditions account for 22% of commonly observed conditions, followed by respiratory tract infections at 18% and common cold and flu at 15%
Wockhardt Foundation’s Mobile1000 programme, which delivers primary healthcare services to rural and underserved communities across India, has highlighted the coexistence of infectious illnesses and noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as hypertension and diabetes among beneficiaries.
Field data from the programme indicates that joint and body pain and other musculoskeletal conditions account for 22% of commonly observed conditions, followed by respiratory tract infections at 18% and common cold and flu at 15%.
Hypertension accounts for 13% and diabetes for 12%, while skin infections and conditions represent 10%. Anaemia and nutritional deficiencies account for 6%, followed by gastritis, acidity and other gastrointestinal complaints at 4%.
The findings point to an increasingly diverse primary healthcare burden, with communities facing both acute illnesses requiring immediate treatment and chronic conditions requiring sustained management. While seasonal respiratory illnesses remain common, routine screening is also helping identify conditions such as hypertension and diabetes that may otherwise remain undiagnosed.
Dr Huzaifa Khorakiwala, Trustee & CEO, Wockhardt Foundation, said the organisation’s community-level work shows that the healthcare conversation is expanding beyond infectious and seasonal illnesses to include conditions such as hypertension and diabetes.
He said taking preventive healthcare closer to communities can enable screening, awareness and timely intervention to become part of routine primary care, while ensuring that patients have an accessible first point of contact connected to the wider healthcare system.
According to Mobile1000’s programme-level experience, around 25–30% of beneficiaries requiring further attention may have previously undiagnosed or unidentified conditions, particularly in areas with limited access to regular healthcare and preventive screening.
The programme has recorded approximately 51 million patient interactions through 211 Mobile Medical Units across 21 states and around 2,954 villages and locations. Its services include free primary healthcare consultations, basic diagnosis and screening, medicines, preventive health and awareness activities, and referral support.
Denis Varghese, Programme Head – Mobile1000, Wockhardt Foundation, said having healthcare services within communities creates more opportunities for timely consultations, screening and health education. He added that strengthening referral and follow-up systems is important for patients requiring additional investigations or specialist care.