Saat Nischay 3: Bihar plans Doctor-led doorstep healthcare for the elderly

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday announced the rollout of a new doorstep healthcare scheme for senior citizens, aimed at ensuring essential medical services reach elderly residents without requiring hospital visits.

The initiative will be implemented under the state government’s flagship ‘Saat Nischay’ (Seven Resolves) programme, with the health department instructed to take up execution on a priority basis. The scheme is part of the recently approved ‘Saat Nischay-3’ , which will be rolled out over the next five years from 2026 to 2030.

In a post on X, the Chief Minister said the government’s focus is to ensure that needy senior citizens receive timely and accessible healthcare at their homes. The services proposed under the scheme include nursing assistance, home-based pathology tests, blood pressure monitoring, ECG examinations, physiotherapy support and emergency medical assistance .

According to officials, the programme is expected to be implemented through mobile medical units and home-care teams , comprising doctors, trained nurses, paramedical staff and diagnostic technicians. These teams are likely to operate in coordination with primary health centres, community health centres and district hospitals to ensure referrals and follow-up treatment when required. Digital health records and coordination with existing state health schemes are also expected to support smooth delivery of services.

The Chief Minister directed the health department to move swiftly to operationalise the scheme so that healthcare facilities are made available at the doorsteps of elderly citizens across urban and rural areas. Special emphasis will be placed on senior citizens who have mobility issues, chronic illnesses or limited access to healthcare infrastructure.

Recalling his government’s governance philosophy since coming to power on November 24, 2005, Kumar said development with justice has remained the guiding principle. “We consider the entire Bihar as our family and have worked to safeguard the dignity and well-being of people from all sections of society,” he said.

Kumar added that ‘Saat Nischay-3’ aims to make Bihar a developed state with a focus on ‘Sabka Samman, Jeevan Aasaan’ (dignity for all and ease of living). He also invited suggestions from the public on additional measures that could improve the quality of life of senior citizens, asking citizens to send their inputs to the Chief Minister’s Secretariat.

The Bihar Cabinet recently approved the rollout of Saat Nischay-3 , marking the third phase of the programme since its inception in 2015, as part of the state’s long-term development roadmap.