Friday, September 19, 2025
Bihar plans to replicate Patna’s successful health fair across all districts to improve rural healthcare access, promote preventive care, and raise awareness through free consultations, diagnostics, and health education.
Patna, July 12, 2025 — After witnessing the overwhelming success of the Health Fair held recently in Patna, the Bihar government is now gearing up to replicate the event across all districts, said State Health Minister [Name] during a press conference on Friday.
Describing the health fair as a “transformative public health outreach initiative,” the minister said the model would now be scaled up to reach underserved and rural populations, bringing healthcare services to their doorsteps.
🏥 The Patna Health Fair: A Model of Success
The health fair, organized over a span of three days at the Patna Gandhi Maidan, drew over 20,000 attendees from different parts of the city and nearby towns. Conducted under the aegis of the Bihar State Health Society in collaboration with district hospitals, medical colleges, NGOs, and private healthcare providers, the fair offered free-of-cost medical services across various disciplines.
Services Offered:
- General physician consultations
- Specialist services (ENT, eye, gynecology, pediatrics, dermatology)
- Diagnostic tests (blood sugar, BP, hemoglobin, thyroid, ECG, etc.)
- Immunization and child health booths
- Maternal health counseling and nutritional support
- Awareness sessions on mental health, hygiene, de-addiction, and government health schemes
Mobile health vans and telemedicine kiosks were also deployed to serve patients unable to access hospital facilities regularly.
🗣️ Health Minister’s Statement
“The success of the health fair in Patna proves the need for a decentralized, proactive approach to healthcare. Our goal is to now institutionalize these fairs across districts and blocks. People shouldn’t have to travel miles for basic medical care,” said the Health Minister.
He further added that District Magistrates and Civil Surgeons have been directed to prepare a standardized framework for implementing health fairs locally, with special focus on rural and tribal areas.
🎯 Expansion Objectives
The government envisions the district-level fairs to:
- Strengthen last-mile healthcare delivery
- Provide early diagnosis and treatment of chronic diseases
- Spread awareness on hygiene, nutrition, and lifestyle changes
- Improve uptake of government schemes like Ayushman Bharat, Janani Suraksha Yojana, and Routine Immunization
- Reduce the burden on tertiary hospitals in cities by promoting preventive care at the grassroots level
📍 Implementation Plan
- District-Level Rollout:
- Each district to organize at least one health fair per quarter
- Block-level versions to follow in high-need areas
- Resource Mobilization:
- Involvement of local Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and Community Health Centres (CHCs)
- Engagement with medical colleges, NGOs, and private practitioners
- Tech Integration:
- Use of digital registration platforms to manage crowd flow
- Mobile apps for feedback and patient follow-ups
- Integration with e-Sanjeevani telemedicine for remote expert consultations
- Focus Areas:
- Maternal and child health
- Non-communicable diseases (diabetes, hypertension, cancer screening)
- Mental health support
- Adolescent health (school health programs included)
🗣️ Community Response
Residents who benefited from the Patna fair welcomed the decision.
“I got free checkups for diabetes and an eye screening. We need this in our village too,” said Sunita Devi, a visitor from Bihta.
Healthcare workers also appreciated the exposure and the integrated system that allowed for referrals and follow-ups on-site.
📌 Summary
📍 Context
- Event: Successful Health Fair held in Patna
- Attendance: 20,000+ citizens benefitted
- Organized by: Bihar State Health Society & partners
🎯 Expansion Plan
- Health Minister announces rollout to all districts and blocks
- Goal: Accessible, preventive, and inclusive healthcare
🩺 Key Services Offered
- Free general and specialist consultations
- Diagnostics, immunizations, and maternal care
- Mental health and lifestyle awareness programs
- Access to government schemes
🛠️ Implementation Details
- Quarterly fairs in districts; monthly in some blocks
- Use of PHCs, CHCs, mobile units, and tech tools
- Monitoring via Health Department's central system
✅ Expected Impact
- Improved rural health access
- Reduced patient load in urban hospitals
- Early disease detection and management
- Increased scheme participation and health awareness
