Bihar Now Offers 611 Free Medicines, Highest in India After Transforming Healthcare System

Bihar's health services were mainly known for their poor condition before 2005. Pictures of animals tied in some hospitals and dogs sleeping on beds in some hospitals used to go viral. But now the state's health services have written a new chapter in the last two decades. There have been extensive improvements in the state's health system since 2005. The most important aspect among them is the free medicine policy. Under this policy, Bihar has become the state in the country to provide the maximum number of 611 types of medicines to patients free of cost. This includes medicines for all important categories of diseases ranging from cancer, heart to viral. In the last 20 years, the supply of medicines from government hospitals has increased 10 times.

The initiative of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar started a new direction of health reform in the year 2005. This step brought about extensive improvement in Bihar's health system, which strengthened the free medicine policy. The result of these efforts is that today Bihar has become the country's leading state in health services and medicine distribution.

10 times increase on drug supply and distribution

In the last five years, the state government has increased the expenditure on drug supply and distribution by 10 times under the free drug policy. While this expenditure was limited earlier, it has increased to about Rs 762 crore in the financial year 2024-25. According to the data of the Health Department, this expenditure can reach Rs 1100 crore in 2025-26. The qualitative improvement in health services clearly shows that before the year 2005, medicines were not available in hospitals, but after the year 2005, life-saving medicines have started being available in hospitals, due to which patients from the poor section no longer have to spend money.

Bihar tops the country on DVDMS portal

According to the DVDMS (Drugs and Vaccine Distribution Management System) portal of the Central Government, Bihar has retained the first position in the field of drug supply and distribution in the country for the 5th consecutive month. This shows the commitment of the state government towards health improvement.

Launch and expansion of free medicine policy

This initiative started from July 1, 2006, when the foundation of free medicine distribution was laid in the state after the approval of the cabinet.

Year 2006: Only 47 types of medicines were available.

Year 2008: 33 types of medicines listed for OPD patients and 112 types of medicines listed for IPD patients.

Year 2023: The list has increased to 611 types of medicines and 132 types of devices/consumables.

Every patient is getting essential medicines

This policy of the Bihar government ensures that every patient coming to the hospital is provided with the medicines he needs. These include many medicines including life saving medicines, cancer, arthritis, asthma, allergy, blood clots and anti-allergic.

Big relief for the poor

There was a time when patients had to depend on private shops for essential medicines but now this situation has completely changed. The poor people have got a huge relief and now patients do not die due to lack of medicines. Also, now there is no need to spend personal money on expensive medicines. This has reduced the burden on the pocket of the common man and access to health facilities has improved.