ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — A UAE-backed sustainability initiative has expanded healthcare access for more than 200,000 people in India through the deployment of solar-powered medical facilities designed for remote communities.
The Beyond2020 initiative, launched by the Zayed Sustainability Prize, has completed the installation of six solar-powered health centers in Karnataka, southwestern India, providing reliable electricity and modern healthcare equipment to areas where infrastructure challenges have limited access to medical services.
The project was implemented by SELCO Foundation, an India-based nonprofit organization and 2018 Zayed Sustainability Prize winner that focuses on using renewable energy solutions to improve living conditions and support sustainable development.
The facilities are designed to help communities receive essential healthcare closer to home, reducing the need for long journeys to larger cities for treatment.
Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh, minister of health and prevention, said the initiative reflects the UAE’s focus on supporting solutions that improve lives and strengthen international cooperation.
“Through Beyond2020, the UAE continues to champion solutions that improve lives, strengthen resilience and advance global cooperation,” he said.
The health centers are equipped with solar photovoltaic systems capable of producing between 2 and 15 kilowatts of power during peak sunlight conditions. Battery storage systems allow facilities to continue operating during periods without direct solar generation.
The renewable energy systems support critical medical services, including vaccine storage, diagnostics and maternal and child healthcare.
The facilities include equipment such as portable baby warmers, phototherapy units, fetal monitors, assisted ventilation devices and digital diagnostic tools. Telemedicine technology also allows healthcare workers to connect patients with specialists remotely.
India has tens of thousands of primary healthcare facilities, many serving rural populations where unreliable electricity and limited infrastructure can affect the availability of medical services.
In Karnataka and other regions, sustainable energy solutions are increasingly being explored as a way to improve healthcare reliability, particularly in communities located far from major hospitals.
SELCO Foundation CEO Dr. Harish Hande said renewable energy can help redesign healthcare delivery by making quality medical services more accessible in remote areas.
“Energy is a catalyst for better healthcare,” he said, adding that the organization aims to expand similar models across India.
The initiative also partnered with the Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement to support a mobile health clinic that continues providing services to underserved communities.
Beyond2020 has so far completed 19 projects across energy, healthcare, water and food sectors, reaching more than 429,800 people across countries including India, Nepal, Tanzania, Egypt, Indonesia and Rwanda.
The programme’s next deployment is planned for Colombia as the UAE continues expanding sustainability partnerships focused on improving access to essential services worldwide.
