Patna: The health department has conducted over 11.43 lakh free ECG tests since April 2025, with the service now available at 606 govt health facilities across the state, according to health department data released on Sunday.The official communique from the department said the number of tests has increased steadily since April last year. From 15,086 tests in April-June 2025, the numbers rose to 57,440 in July-Sept, 1,43,943 in Oct-Dec and 2,57,605 in Jan-March 2026.In the first quarter of the current financial year, 3,11,903 ECG tests were conducted. From July to Sept 26, another 3,57,928 tests were recorded, taking the total since April 2025 to more than 11.43 lakh.The free ECG facility is currently available at district, sub-divisional and referral hospitals; community health centres; primary health centres and urban primary health centres. The department said patients undergoing the test at govt hospitals receive the report along with technical interpretation within 10 minutes.In Patna district, ECG testing facilities are available at Guru Gobind Singh Sadar Hospital, all sub-divisional hospitals and various block-level govt hospitals, the Patna district health committee said. Facilities at Maner, Danapur, Gardanibagh Hospital and Rajendra Nagar Hospital are currently under process. The service will help facilitate timely diagnosis and referrals for patients with heart-related problems.The expansion of the service has also taken ECG testing to block and local-level health facilities, allowing patients to access the diagnostic service closer to their homes. The department said this would particularly benefit people in rural areas by reducing the need to travel to private hospitals for the test and cutting additional travel expenses.Health minister Nishant Kumar said the expansion was helping make essential diagnostic services available to patients at nearby govt health institutions in both rural and urban areas. He said the facility would assist in the timely examination and identification of possible heart-related problems.
