India, July 1 -- India's healthcare expansion over the last decade has been substantial. As of February 2026, the country has operationalised 1,84,235 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, sanctioned 744 Integrated Public Health Laboratories under Pradhan Mantri-Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM), and approved 621 critical care blocks to strengthen district-level capacity. Screening programmes have scaled rapidly, with 40.1 crore hypertension screenings, 39.8 crore diabetes screenings, and over 33.8 crore oral cancer screenings already conducted through the public system.

These initiatives reflect a system focused on access and coverage. However, access alone does not translate into timely diagnosis. Yet the system remains const...