- By Kamakshi Bishnoi
- Tue, 06 May 2025 11:11 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
Medical postgraduate (MD, MS) students deployed under the District Residency Program in Uttar Pradesh will now also participate in the Chief Minister Jan Arogya Health Fairs held every Sunday across the state. This move is expected to boost the number of doctors available during the weekly events by over 1,000.
Principal Secretary of the Health Department, Partha Sarathi Sen Sharma, has directed district officials to implement this new arrangement. As per current norms, 25 per cent of postgraduate medical students from state medical colleges are posted in district hospitals for a three-month rotation. Out of 4,028 PG seats across the state, around 1,000 students are consistently serving in district hospitals.
Under the new directive, these students will also provide medical services at the Jan Arogya Health Fairs, which are conducted at all 3,713 primary health centres every Sunday. Previously, over 8,000 doctors had been serving at these fairs weekly; with the addition of the PG students, the number is expected to rise substantially.
The fairs witness attendance of approximately 1.5 to 2 lakh patients each week, who receive consultations, diagnostic tests, medicines, and Ayushman Bharat health cards. The government has issued instructions to prioritise the issuance of Ayushman cards for individuals above 70 years of age.
Additionally, special focus is being laid on the screening and follow-up of both infectious diseases—such as tuberculosis, malaria, filariasis, and leprosy—as well as non-communicable conditions like diabetes and hypertension.