Patna: The Bihar government on June 13 flagged off the 100th batch of children under the Bal Hriday Yojana, sending 32 children suffering from congenital heart disease to Ahmedabad for free treatment.
The children were flagged off from Swasthya Bhawan by Bihar Health Minister Nishant Kumar. They will receive treatment at the Sri Sathya Sai Heart Hospital in Ahmedabad under the supervision of specialist doctors.
Addressing the gathering, Nishant said the state government is committed to ensuring that financial constraints do not prevent children from receiving life-saving treatment. He described the departure of the scheme’s 100th batch as a significant milestone reflecting the Health Department’s efforts to provide quality healthcare to needy families.
32 Children Selected from Multiple Districts
According to the Health Department, the 100th batch comprises children from 11 districts across Bihar. These include three children each from Buxar, Jehanabad, Samastipur and Vaishali; seven from Patna; five from Nalanda; two each from East Champaran, Madhepura and Munger; and one each from Khagaria and Madhubani.
The selected children have been identified through screening programmes and medical examinations conducted by the department.
Scheme has Benefited More Than 3,100 Children
The Health Minister said the Bal Hriday Yojana was launched in April 2021 under the ‘Saat Nischay-2’ initiative of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. The scheme aims to provide free screening, surgery and treatment to children aged up to 18 years suffering from congenital heart disease, particularly heart defects such as holes in the heart.
According to official figures, 3,101 children have successfully undergone treatment under the scheme so far. Officials said the programme has helped improve access to specialised cardiac care while reducing the financial burden on affected families.
Screening and Referral Process
The Health Department regularly conducts screening drives and health camps across the state to identify children with congenital heart disease. Following medical evaluation, eligible children are referred to specialised healthcare institutions for treatment.
These include institutions such as Indira Gandhi Institute of Cardiology (IGIC), Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS), Medanta Hospital in Patna and Sri Sathya Sai Heart Hospital in Ahmedabad.
The Bihar government said it would continue efforts to make healthcare services more accessible and effective through people-oriented initiatives, with the Bal Hriday Yojana remaining a key component of that strategy.
