Patna: JEEViKA Didis are making government hospital services easier to access for poor and rural families in Bihar through 45 JEEViKA Health Assistance Centres. Trained Health Mitras help patients with registration, doctor consultations, diagnostic tests, medicines, blood, oxygen and other essential services.
The initiative, launched in Bhagalpur in 2022, has now expanded to 35 major government and district hospitals and 10 medical colleges and hospitals across the state.
From One Centre to 45 Across Bihar
The first JEEViKA Health Assistance Centre started on September 5, 2022, at Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College and Hospital (JLNMCH), Bhagalpur.
The trained Health Mitras work in different shifts and guide patients through hospital procedures. Their support is particularly useful for people arriving from rural and remote areas who may find it difficult to locate the right doctor, diagnostic centre or medicine counter.
The expansion of the programme has taken the total number of centres to 45, bringing the service closer to more patients across Bihar.
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Health Mitras Help Patients Navigate Treatment
Health Mitras provide support from the time patients enter the hospital until they receive treatment and follow-up guidance. They coordinate with hospital authorities, doctors, nurses, ANMs, radiology and pathology staff and registration personnel.
Their responsibilities include helping patients with:
- Registration and medical consultation
- Diagnostic tests and medicines
- Blood and oxygen arrangements
- Food and other essential requirements
For self-help group members and their families admitted to hospitals, Health Mitras also record patient details in prescribed forms and coordinate assistance based on their needs.
Tracking Patients After Admission
The support does not end after a patient gets admitted. Health Mitras regularly monitor hospitalised patients and coordinate with doctors for further consultation and follow-up treatment.
This system can reduce the confusion faced by families who have to move between multiple hospital departments. For people coming from distant rural areas, such assistance can save time and make access to government healthcare services easier.
JEEViKA Links Healthcare With Women’s Empowerment
The Health Mitras are selected through local JEEViKA women’s Cluster Level Federations and receive training before being deployed at hospitals.
The initiative therefore combines two objectives: improving access to public healthcare and creating a role for women associated with self-help groups in community-level services.
By placing trained local women at hospital help desks, the programme gives patients a familiar point of assistance while also expanding the role of JEEViKA members beyond livelihood activities.
Government Focuses on Easier Hospital Access
Rural Development and Information & Public Relations Minister Shravan Kumar said help-desk facilities are directly benefiting poor and rural patients visiting government hospitals and health institutions.
He said the government wants every person seeking treatment to receive quick and convenient assistance without unnecessary difficulties or dependence on intermediaries.
The expansion of JEEViKA Health Assistance Centres highlights the state’s focus on making public healthcare services more accessible while strengthening women’s participation in community welfare.
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