Launched in November 2022, the initiative was designed to bridge critical gaps in access, affordability, and awareness of rehabilitation services, particularly in underserved last-mile communities. Through a transdisciplinary approach, Rehab on Wheels provides physiotherapy, medical consultations, assistive device assessments, audiology services, and caregiver training through fixed rehabilitation centres and mobile service units. By bringing healthcare directly to communities, the programme reduces dependence on urban healthcare facilities while ensuring continuity of rehabilitation services.
During FY 2022–26, the initiative conducted more than 6,000 awareness and sensitisation activities, delivered over 300 assistive device assessments and distributions, and organised 12 medical camps, surpassing its planned targets. It also strengthened early identification and intervention through active engagement with Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA), Anganwadi workers, and other local stakeholders.
Marking the fourth year of Rehab on Wheels, GNV Subba Rao, Global Head of Operations, Center – Automation and Head of ABB Innovation Center, India, said that the programme has evolved into a critical last-mile intervention over the past three years by addressing gaps in access, affordability, and awareness of rehabilitation services. He stated that the initiative has produced measurable improvements in mobility, pain reduction, and community participation while enabling early identification, strengthening referral systems, and building local capacity, making rehabilitation more sustainable at the community level.
Dr. N.S. Senthil Kumar, President of APD Futures at The Association of People with Disability (APD, India), said Rehab on Wheels has become a strong example of how innovation and strategic partnerships can address longstanding gaps in healthcare accessibility. He added that the scale achieved by the initiative and its measurable impact on communities reinforce the belief that the model can be expanded to reach many more underserved populations.
What began as a single mobile rehabilitation unit has now expanded into a fleet of three buses, supported by growing corporate participation in the programme. The expansion has enabled APD to increase its reach across Bengaluru and surrounding regions while demonstrating a scalable model for inclusive, community-based rehabilitation in India.
The Association of People with Disability (APD), established in 1959 by the late N. S. Hema, is a pioneering non-profit organisation that has impacted more than six lakh persons with disabilities from underprivileged, remote, rural, and economically disadvantaged communities. Its programmes cover 18 of the 21 disabilities recognised under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. The organisation has a diverse workforce of more than 230 members, including 45 per cent women and 30 per cent persons with disabilities, and reaches over 60,000 direct and indirect beneficiaries annually. APD is managed by a professional team of development and technical experts under the supervision of its Board of Governors and Trustees. The organisation maintains high standards of governance and has received recognition from multiple donors while earning accreditation from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Credibility Alliance, Rehabilitation Council of India, and NIPMAN Foundation.
ABB is a global technology leader in electrification and automation, developing solutions that combine engineering expertise and software to improve the efficiency of manufacturing, transportation, energy, and industrial operations. With a history spanning more than 130 years and approximately 105,000 employees worldwide, the company focuses on innovations that accelerate industrial transformation.
ABB has maintained a presence in India for more than a century and has been manufacturing in the country for over 75 years. ABB India employs more than 8,000 people across manufacturing, research and development, design, and business services while maintaining operations across the country. The company continues to work with partners and customers to advance electrification, automation, and digitalisation through energy-efficient solutions supporting India's transition towards net-zero emissions. Through its work with utilities, industries, transportation, and infrastructure sectors, ABB continues to promote industrial digitalisation and sustainable technological advancement.
The continued expansion of Rehab on Wheels highlights the growing role of collaborative partnerships in delivering accessible, affordable, and community-based rehabilitation services to underserved populations while establishing a scalable model for inclusive healthcare delivery across India.
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