Guwahati: The Congenital Heart Disease Program in Assam has turned out to be one of its success stories in the medical arena, giving a lifeline for children born with critical heart conditions, offering hope to families who otherwise could not afford specialised treatment. This program was recently highlighted with the visit by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, where he met around 1,000 youngsters whose lives were transformed with this program.
Reflecting on his visit, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma wrote on his X post, “During his visit yesterday, Amit Shah ji met with 1,000 children who got a new lease of life through our CHD Programme.”
The CHD Programme targets children aged 0-18 years from families having an annual income of less than ₹6 lakh. According to the programme, children suffering from congenital heart diseases are offered comprehensive care, including free health screening, treatment, and corrective heart surgery. The program, to ease the burden of the families, also incurs costs of air travel and the stay of the child and the guardian at the hospital to ensure that the child does not miss out due to a lack of funds.
Introduced around 15 years ago, during the tenure of Himanta Biswa Sarma as Health Minister himself, the program has managed to save the lives of over 13,000 so far. One of the key strengths of the initiative lies in the extensive partnership it holds with Narayana Health, giving the kids access to top-notch cardiologist treatment. Kids from the far-off parts of Assam get identified and undergo treatment.
However, the success of the CHD programme has not just been limited to heart care. The CHD programme itself has formed the basis of the ‘Snehasparsh Scheme’, which distributes free liver, kidney, and bone marrow transplants to children. This has already brought relief to the lives of over 5,500 children. Furthermore, ‘Operation Smile’ campaigns have been initiated, which offer free corrective surgeries to children with cleft lips.
For parents of beneficiaries, the program is represented as ‘life-changing,’ more than just a medical intervention. It is not just for their children but for families who would not have been able to afford this specialised care otherwise. Health officials involved in its implementation credit its success to early detection, coordinated logistics and a compassionate, patient-centric approach.
As Assam continues to strengthen its healthcare outreach, the CHD Programme stands as a powerful example of how sustained public policy, backed by intent and execution, can save lives and shape brighter futures for thousands of children.