What is the Beyond2020 initiative?

Beyond2020 is the flagship humanitarian initiative of the UAE's Zayed Sustainability Prize, focused on deploying sustainable solutions in communities worldwide that require them the most.

Who implemented this solar healthcare project in India?

The project in India was implemented by the SELCO Foundation, which was a recipient of the Zayed Sustainability Prize in 2018.

How much travel did patients avoid for health screenings?

Patients avoided an estimated **55km to 60km** of travel for each antenatal screening, while AI-assisted cardiac screenings helped avoid around **57km** of travel per patient by enabling local identification of conditions.

What improvements in health services resulted from reliable power?

The introduction of reliable power led to a **100% increase** in daily outpatient visits and an approximately **50% rise** in monthly vaccinations, alongside preventing vaccine spoilage and ensuring lighting for night-time emergencies.

How is the long-term operation of the solar systems ensured?

The sustainability of the solar systems is ensured through remote monitoring, fault tracking via service tickets, and the allocation of maintenance funds from the health facilities' own budgets, redirecting money previously used for diesel and electricity.

All news

Sustainability·10 August 2026

UAE Initiative Uses Solar Power to Deliver Healthcare in Rural India

A UAE-backed initiative, part of the Zayed Sustainability Prize's Beyond2020 programme, has provided solar-powered healthcare to over 5,000 women in rural India, significantly reducing travel distances for essential scre

A humanitarian initiative spearheaded by the UAE, part of the Zayed Sustainability Prize's Beyond2020 programme, has delivered vital healthcare services to more than 5,000 women in rural India. This programme has enabled patients to receive antenatal screenings and other health services closer to home, often avoiding travel distances of up to 60km for each appointment.

The project was implemented in India by the SELCO Foundation, a 2018 Zayed Sustainability Prize winner. It focuses on a 'whole-care-pathway approach', integrating energy systems, medical equipment, built environment design, staff training, connectivity, and referral systems. This comprehensive model has allowed rural health facilities to expand their offerings to include a wider range of diagnostic, maternal, neonatal, and emergency services.

Impact on Health Services

The introduction of solar-powered health kits and reliable electricity has had a measurable impact. Documented cases show that patients avoided an estimated 55km to 60km of travel for antenatal screenings. Beyond that, AI-assisted cardiac screening interventions were estimated to have saved thousands of potential referral journeys, with approximately 57km of travel avoided per patient. Some facilities reported a 100% increase in daily outpatient visits and a 50% rise in monthly vaccinations after the implementation of reliable power and new equipment.

Reliable power has also been crucial for maintaining vaccine efficacy, preventing spoilage during outages, and ensuring essential equipment and lighting are operational for night-time deliveries and emergencies.

Sustainable Operations and Future Reach

The initiative has incorporated robust systems to ensure long-term operational sustainability. Solar systems are remotely monitored, with faults generating service tickets and tracked through service-level agreements. Preventive maintenance, vendor support, and staff training are integral to the model. Individual health facilities contribute to this sustainability by allocating maintenance funds from their budgets, redirecting money previously spent on diesel and electricity bills towards the upkeep of the new solar systems.

This adaptable model, which prioritises local health needs and integrates various components rather than simply replicating technology, holds significant potential for other regions facing similar 'last-mile' healthcare and energy challenges, particularly in Africa. The India deployment is one of 19 Beyond2020 projects that have collectively reached over 429,800 people across 19 countries, with Colombia identified for the 20th deployment.

Frequently asked

Questions, answered

What is the Beyond2020 initiative?: Beyond2020 is the flagship humanitarian initiative of the UAE's Zayed Sustainability Prize, focused on deploying sustainable solutions in communities worldwide that require them the most.
Who implemented this solar healthcare project in India?: The project in India was implemented by the SELCO Foundation, which was a recipient of the Zayed Sustainability Prize in 2018.
How much travel did patients avoid for health screenings?: Patients avoided an estimated **55km to 60km** of travel for each antenatal screening, while AI-assisted cardiac screenings helped avoid around **57km** of travel per patient by enabling local identification of conditions.
What improvements in health services resulted from reliable power?: The introduction of reliable power led to a **100% increase** in daily outpatient visits and an approximately **50% rise** in monthly vaccinations, alongside preventing vaccine spoilage and ensuring lighting for night-time emergencies.
How is the long-term operation of the solar systems ensured?: The sustainability of the solar systems is ensured through remote monitoring, fault tracking via service tickets, and the allocation of maintenance funds from the health facilities' own budgets, redirecting money previously used for diesel and electricity.

Reported by

Google News — UAE Sustainability & Green Building

View original coverage

This brief was summarised and rewritten by Gaia Living from public reporting. Figures and details reflect the original sources.

Echoes, in your inbox

One thoughtful email a month. Market insight, new launches, no spam.