School Health Care Program - SHP

A comprehensive, no-cost healthcare program ensuring that government school children receive continuous preventive, promotive, and curative health services.

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  • Hyderabad
  • Telangana
  • Rural, Tribal and Urban School Health Interventions
School Health Care Program

Why this Program Exists

For many children in government schools, healthcare remains unaffordable and inaccessible, especially when families are daily wage earners and awareness of health issues is limited.

Untreated illnesses and pre-existing conditions

Frequent absenteeism from school

Low energy and poor learning outcomes

SHP was designed with the belief that healthy children learn better, stay in school longer, and build a stronger future.

Program Overview

SHP is designed to reduce health-related absenteeism through prevention, early identification, and treatment delivered through school-based outpatient systems.

Objective: To reduce health-related absenteeism through prevention, early identification, and treatment via school-based outpatient systems.

  • “Not well, come to School” as a child-friendly care message.
  • “50 paise per child per day” as a model for affordable, scalable healthcare.
  • Complete healthcare coverage at no cost for government school children.
  • Equitable, continuous, and dignified care ranging from common illnesses to complex surgeries.
School Health Care Program Overview
What Makes SHP Unique

What Makes SHP Unique

SHP brings together access, affordability, and continuity of care in a child-centered model designed for long-term public health impact.

✓ Universal access for government school children.
✓ Preventive, promotive, and curative care within one program.
✓ Covers illnesses from the common cold to cardiac surgeries.
✓ Highly cost-effective at just ₹0.50 per child per day.
✓ Scalable and replicable across urban, rural, and tribal settings.

How the Program Works

The first point of care near schools, where qualified doctors provide early consultation, diagnosis, and treatment for common health concerns.
Children requiring additional attention are referred to Community Health Centres or NICE Hospital for diagnostics, follow-up, and specialized treatment.
Advanced cases are referred for tertiary care, including cardiac, neurology, and other complex interventions that need higher-level medical expertise.
Role of School Health Volunteers

Role of School Health Volunteers

Selected students are trained as peer educators who help build awareness, encourage healthy behaviors, and strengthen a culture of health within schools.

  • Promote health awareness among fellow students.
  • Encourage healthy behaviors and positive daily practices.
  • Lead activities such as competitions, discussions, and peer engagement initiatives.
  • This approach builds ownership, leadership, and health awareness among children.

Health Concerns Identified

Regular screenings highlight the most common health concerns affecting children and help enable early intervention before conditions worsen.

79%

Anaemia

72%

Malnutrition

62%

Dental issues

34%

Skin conditions

11%

Vision problems

4%

Hearing problems

<1%

Kidney & heart diseases

Endemic

Infectious diseases

Early detection enables timely treatment, follow-up, and prevention of complications.

Impact

SHP has delivered measurable outcomes in school health, treatment access, and long-term continuity of care for children across urban, rural, and tribal settings.

18+ lakh

Outpatient consultations delivered

949

Surgeries performed

84

Cardiac surgeries supported

53,000+

Children benefited in Hyderabad

Intervention Scale

Urban Intervention

  • 21+ years of implementation
  • 1,072 government schools covered
  • 2,25,000 children reached

Rural Intervention

  • 20 years of implementation
  • 579 government schools covered
  • 2,58,000 children reached

Tribal Intervention

  • 20 years of implementation
  • 220 government schools covered
  • 80,000 children reached

Geographical Presence

The School Health Care Program began in 2003 in the erstwhile Andhra Pradesh and expanded in 2006 to Rajasthan, reflecting its adaptability across diverse geographies and school health systems.

  • Initiated in Hyderabad in the erstwhile Andhra Pradesh, now Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
  • Expanded to Rajasthan, including Jodhpur, Udaipur, and Bikaner.
  • Currently implemented in Hyderabad, Telangana.
  • Continues within broader rural and tribal interventions in Vizianagaram, Srikakulam, and Alluri Sitarama Raju district.
Geographical Presence
Stories of Care

Case Studies

Behind every intervention is a child, a family, and a future changed through timely care. Explore stories that reflect the reach, responsiveness, and life-changing impact of the School Health Care Program.

Recognition & Replicability

SHP has been recognized as a practical and scalable public health model that can be adapted across regions while maintaining its focus on child health and school continuity.

01

Included in the Eleventh Five-Year Plan of India.

02

Documented and acknowledged as a case study in public health practice.

03

Recommended for replication by the International Labour Organization (ILO).

SHP stands as a cost-effective, scalable, and replicable model for strengthening school health systems and expanding equitable healthcare access for children.

Investing in Healthy Futures

Investing in Healthy Futures

SHP demonstrates that quality healthcare for children is affordable, scalable, and deeply impactful. By ensuring that health is never a barrier to education, the program helps children stay in school, thrive, and build a healthier future.

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