Beyond the Clinic Walls: Will MMUs Be the PHC's New Backbone?

India’s primary healthcare (PHC) system is being asked to deliver essential health services focused on prevention, early diagnosis, maternal-child, and noncommunicable disease (NCD) care—often with thin staffing and uneven access in remote areas.

- TBG NETWORK

Mobile Medical Units (MMUs) are frequently treated as add-ons, but they can operate as true “spokes” to the PHC “hub,” extending reach, decongesting facilities, and closing followup gaps when designed as part of the system rather than outside it. MMUs work best when three fundamentals come together. First, *clear anchoring: each MMU should be mapped to defined PHC catchments with a fixed micro-itinerary—predictable village days, school and workplace halts, and referral slots pre-booked at the PHC’s. This predictability builds community trust, improves attendance, and helps PHCs plan staff time for referral closures and chronic-care reviews. Second, *standardized service packages: a small, disciplined list—vitals, basic labs for NCDs, ANC/PNC checks, immunization support, essential medicines, and immediate referrals—prevents mission creep and keeps visits efficient. Third,