P&G SEHAT Boat Clinic Expands Healthcare Access in Remote Brahmaputra Communities

Assam, March 10, 2026: P&G SEHAT, the healthcare-focused Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative of Procter & Gamble Health Limited (P&G Health), is improving access to primary healthcare for underserved communities living in remote villages and islands along the Brahmaputra River in Assam through a specially equipped boat clinic.

Launched in 2025, the initiative currently serves more than 20,000 people across 18 peninsular villages and 10 islands located along the river. The mobile healthcare facility provides maternal, child and preventive healthcare services to communities that often face challenges accessing medical infrastructure due to difficult terrain and shifting river channels.

The boat clinic is staffed by trained medical professionals and equipped with a six-bed ward, mini operation theatre, labour room, diagnostic laboratory and pharmacy. Since its launch, the clinic has recorded increasing demand for antenatal care and immunisation services, while also working with local Primary Health Centres (PHCs) to support vaccination efforts.

Under the programme, all registered pregnant women receive at least three antenatal check-ups, helping strengthen early diagnosis and continuity of care. In addition to routine medical services, the initiative also conducts health camps and awareness sessions within the communities to promote preventive healthcare practices.

Local community volunteers play an important role in supporting the initiative. Residents from the project areas assist in monitoring health parameters at the household level, mobilising communities, encouraging follow-up visits and informing villagers about clinic schedules, helping ensure better utilisation of healthcare services.

Milind Thatte, Managing Director, P&G Health, said, “The frequent changes in the course of the river Brahmaputra in Assam, and the unique terrain of the surrounding areas, make access to primary healthcare challenging for the local communities. P&G Sehat is continuing to work with its NGO partners to bridge this gap, and provide consistent, reliable and sustained health facilities to people in these underserved communities, through its special Boat Clinic. This is in line with our mission of providing quality healthcare and drive healthcare awareness in underserved communities across India.”

The boat clinic model has also demonstrated resilience despite environmental challenges such as seasonal floods, shifting river courses and fluctuating water levels. Medical teams combine the use of the boat clinic with fishing boats and land transport when necessary to maintain continuity of outpatient services, immunisation drives and health awareness programmes.

Through the P&G SEHAT initiative, the company aims to address healthcare accessibility gaps in geographically isolated regions while strengthening preventive healthcare and maternal health outcomes in rural communities.