New Delhi, Sept. 29 -- For decades, rural hospitals carried a reputation of being the first stop-but rarely the final one-for patients with serious conditions. Limited infrastructure, minimal equipment, and overworked staff often meant that when a crisis struck, families were left with a difficult choice: risk transferring the patient to a distant city hospital, or accept limited local support.

This pattern was familiar across many districts. Patients with heart complications, respiratory distress, neurological issues, or high-risk deliveries were bundled into ambulances and sent on journeys lasting hours. For the most vulnerable, the road itself was a life-or-death gamble.

But this narrative is slowly changing-and with visible impact....