Patna: Health Minister Mangal Pandey said the department is highly sensitive towards the eradication of severe and congenital diseases affecting children in the state. To achieve this goal, the Chief Minister Child Heart Scheme is being implemented in the state. The primary objective of the scheme is to identify children born with heart diseases in a timely manner and provide them with free and proper treatment, thereby relieving needy families from severe financial burdens. Through the Child Heart Scheme, 2,665 children suffering from heart diseases have undergone successful surgery and treatment in the state so far. Mangal Pandey said that such children are identified through health camps and screening programs in various districts of the state. After a detailed medical examination, selected children are referred to IGIMS, Jay Prabha Medanta Hospital, and Sri Sathya Sai Heart Hospital, Ahmedabad, as needed, where they receive free surgery and treatment under the supervision of expert doctors. In the financial year 2021-2022, a total of 338 successful surgeries and treatments were carried out under the Child Heart Scheme. The number increased to 410 in the financial year 2022-2023. During the financial year 2023-2024, a total of 556 successful surgeries and treatments were carried out. The program saw the highest increase in the financial year 2024-2025, when a total of 764 successful surgeries and treatments were carried out. In the financial year 2025-2026, a total of 597 successful surgeries and treatments have been carried out till January 9, 2026. Mangal Pandey said that under the Chief Minister Child Heart Scheme, the 94th batch of children suffering from congenital heart diseases has been sent to Sri Sathya Sai Heart Hospital in Ahmedabad for free treatment. This batch includes 20 children from the districts of Araria, Buxar, East Champaran, Gaya, Madhubani, Nalanda, Samastipur, Saran, Sheohar, and Vaishali, who are suffering from holes in the heart. All these children will undergo free surgery and treatment. The state health department also bears the travel expenses of these children to and from Ahmedabad. Meanwhile, under the Child Heart Scheme and the National Child Health Program, a total of 14 children underwent free device closure and non-invasive surgery at the Indira Gandhi Heart Institute, Patna, on January 8 and 9.