New Delhi, Dec 19:- Smile Foundation receives the coveted “Public health NGO of the Year accolade during the National Healthcare Awards 2025 in New Delhi.
Smile Foundation’s flagship healthcare initiative has reached over two Million (20 lakh) beneficiaries in the financial year 2024–25, marking a significant milestone in its mission to deliver quality primary healthcare to underserved communities across India. Since the inception of Smile Foundation’s healthcare programme in 2006, as many as 70 lakh individuals have been reached directly, providing curative, preventive, and promotive health services that continue to reduce out-of-pocket expenditure, strengthen community health-seeking behaviour nationwide, besides complementing various governmental missions.
“Delivering healthcare at the grassroots is about trust, technology, and teamwork,” said Mr. Santanu Mishra, Co-Founder & Executive Trustee, Smile Foundation, “This accolade reflects the tireless efforts of our field teams and the continued support of our corporate partners, donors, and government departments. Together, we are working to ensure that every citizen, regardless of geography or income, has access to affordable, quality healthcare.”
Reaching the last mile in healthcare remains one of India’s most urgent goals, compounded by vast geography, socio-economic disparities, and uneven distribution of medical infrastructure. Smile Foundation has been trying to address the three fundamental barriers to healthcare availability, accessibility, and affordability through its innovative delivery models.
Operating across 22 states and 90 districts, including 22 Aspirational Districts, Smile Foundation’s healthcare initiatives complement national priorities under Ayushman Bharat, the National Digital Health Mission, and POSHAN Abhiyaan, while contributing directly to Sustainable Development Goal 3 At present, Smile Foundation is operating 93 mobile medical units (MMUs), one boat clinic, 10 mobile telemedicine units, multiple mobile dentals clinics, four static clinics, many multi-speciality health camps, and several large-scale community screening and awareness camps. In FY 2024–25, Smile on Wheels MMUs alone provided approximately 17.56 lakh treatments and reached 1.45 lakh individuals through preventive and promotive health services.
Aligned with the National Digital Health Mission, Smile Foundation has deployed technology-led monitoring and governance systems such as digital patient databases, GPS-enabled tracking, and real-time data dashboards to ensure transparency, accountability, and efficiency in healthcare delivery. These innovations have strengthened primary care systems, reduced the burden on secondary and tertiary facilities, and empowered local health infrastructure through collaboration with ASHA and ANM workers.
