HDFC Bank Parivartan Teams Up With Smile Foundation to Expand Healthcare Access in North India
HDFC Bank, through its CSR programme Parivartan, has partnered with Smile Foundation to launch 8 Mobile Medical Care Units (MCUs) across select remote communities in North India, serving approximately 4 lakh individuals. The programme spans Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Punjab, and Uttarakhand, with eight MCUs deployed in total.
Under its Healthcare and Hygiene pillar, HDFC Bank Parivartan works to improve access to primary and preventive healthcare. This initiative focuses on geographically remote and resource-scarce communities. In hilly terrains, where reaching services can be challenging due to terrain, resource constraints, and high demand on existing systems, timely care is not always easily accessible. These MCUs are designed to directly address that gap.
Each MCU will deliver a full range of primary healthcare services. This includes OPD consultations, diagnostics, and free medicines. Referral services will connect patients to PHCs and CHCs. Pregnant women will receive antenatal and postnatal care. Children will benefit from growth monitoring. Adults will be screened for hypertension, diabetes, and anaemia. School health camps will cover hygiene, nutrition, and menstrual health. Health education sessions will build lasting preventive habits in communities.
The programme will begin in April 2026 and run through March 2028. The launch event brought all 8 MCUs together, featuring project briefings, keynote addresses from HDFC Bank and Smile Foundation leadership.
Speaking about the initiative, Ms. Nusrat Pathan, Head CSR, HDFC Bank, said, “At HDFC Bank, we believe that good health is the foundation of resilient communities. In many remote parts of North India, quality healthcare remains out of reach for the most vulnerable. Through this partnership with Smile Foundation, we are bringing integrated primary healthcare directly to the people who need it most. This initiative reflects Parivartan’s deep commitment to last-mile healthcare and to the communities we serve.”
Speaking about the partnership, Mr. Santanu Mishra, Co-Founder and Executive Trustee, Smile Foundation, said, “We are proud of this partnership with HDFC Bank to deliver integrated primary healthcare services at the doorsteps of the communities. Healthcare remains a crucial factor in ensuring the wellbeing and prosperity of a community. Through this meaningful partnership, we are further enhancing our innovative efforts to take primary healthcare to the communities and thereby complementing the government’s mission.”
The launch event was attended by several guests, including Maj. Gen. (Dr. Prof.) Atul Kotwal, Distinguished Scientist Chair at the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR); Dr. K. Madan Gopal, Advisor and Head – Public Health Administration at the National Health Systems Resource Centre; and Dr. Priyanka Shenoy, Senior Consultant at the National Health Systems Resource Centre. Officials from HDFC Bank present at the launch included Mr. Sanjeev Kaushik, Regional Head – Retail Branch Banking; Mr. Ashish Srivastava, Zonal Head – North & East, Corporate Social Responsibility; Ms. Arpana Kumari, Regional Head – North, Corporate Social Responsibility; and Mr. Arvind Singh, Regional Head – North, Corporate Social Responsibility.
For this programme, Smile Foundation will manage all MCU operations. This includes deploying MBBS doctors, adhering to ICMR protocols, technology-based progress monitoring, and linking beneficiaries to government health schemes under the National Health Mission. The initiative aligns with national priorities including SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), the NP-NCD framework, and the Anemia Mukt Bharat mission.
Beyond this initiative, HDFC Bank Parivartan continues to support healthcare programmes across India. The Bank has partnered with institutions such as the Ramky Foundation and Tata Memorial Hospital, reinforcing its long-term commitment to community health and well-being.
Parivartan, HDFC Bank’s umbrella CSR programme, drives development initiatives across six focus areas: Rural Development; Promotion of Education; Skill Development and Livelihood Enhancement; Healthcare and Hygiene; Financial Literacy and Inclusion; and Environment Sustainability. [KNT]
