Patna: In a major administrative decision, the Bihar Health Department has decided to shut down 31 vision centres operating across 19 districts under the National Blindness Control Programme. The move has been approved by the State Health Society, officials said.
These centres were being run in public-private partnership (PPP) mode by ASG Hospital Private Limited, Rajasthan. According to officials, 26 of these vision centres will be relocated to Patna, while the remaining five will be shifted to other districts instead of their original locations.
Reason cited: low patient footfall, space constraints
The decision follows a request from the operating agency, which cited low patient turnout and lack of adequate space as key reasons for relocation. State Programme Officer Dr Rishi Kapoor has issued a letter to all Civil Surgeons and District Health Committees regarding the closure and shifting of these centres.
As per the communication, the agency informed the State Health Society that the number of eye patients visiting these centres was relatively low, making operations unviable at the current locations.
Impact at district level
In Bhojpur district, Civil Surgeon Dr Surendra Kumar Sinha said that out of 14 blocks, ASG operates centres in four—Agiaon, Garhani, Koilwar and Barhara—while the rest are managed through departmental resources. The centre at Agiaon is among those being shut, and the department may consider fresh appointments to continue services.
List of major relocations
Several centres across districts will now be shifted to urban health facilities in Patna:
- Aurangabad: CHC Dev and Madanpur to UPHC Alamganj and Bari Pahari, Patna
- Banka: RH Katoria to UPHC Chandpur Bela, Patna
- Begusarai: PHC Mansurchak and Navkothi to UPHC Daudpur Bagicha and Didarganj, Patna
- Bhagalpur: CHC Narayanpur to UPHC Digha Mushahari, Patna
- Bhojpur: CHC Agiaon to UPHC East Lohaniyapur, Patna
- East Champaran: CHC Patahi to UPHC Gulzarbagh, Patna
- Jamui: CHC Chakai and Sono to UPHC Jayaprabha and Jakhari Mahadev, Patna
- Kaimur: CHC Chand to UPHC Kamla Nehru Nagar, Patna
- Khagaria: PHC Beldaur to UPHC Kankarbagh, Patna
- Madhubani: CHC Ladania and Khajauli to UPHC Kasba and Kaushal Nagar, Patna
- Munger: CHC Sangrampur to UPHC Main Secretariat, Patna
- Nalanda: CHC Silao to UPHC Marufganj, Patna
- Nawada: PHC Sirdala and CHC Hisua to UPHC Mubarakpur and Postal Park, Patna
- Patna: PHC Pandarak, Sampatchak and Khusrupur to UPHC Rajapur Pul, Rukanpura and Sandalpur Kumhrar
Some centres will be shifted to other districts:
- Samastipur: CHC Bithan to CHC Kalyan Bigha, Nalanda
- Siwan: CHC Barharia to APHC Karpoorigram, Samastipur; CHC Hussainganj to CHC Chaki, Buxar
- Vaishali: CHC Jandaha to CHC Kahra, Saharsa
- West Champaran: CHC Sikta to CHC Chhatapur, Supaul
Concerns over accessibility
While the department maintains that the decision is based on operational feasibility, the relocation—particularly to Patna—may raise concerns about accessibility for patients in rural and remote areas who depended on these centres for eye care services.
No official timeline has been announced yet for the complete shutdown and relocation process.
