NANGAL, Sept. 21 — A large multi-specialty health check-up camp was organized Sunday in Nangal, Punjab, by the Indian Minority Federation (IMF) and the New India Development Foundation (NIDF), marking the first such initiative in the flood-hit city on the banks of the Sutlej.
The camp, held as part of Seva Pakhwada commemorating Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday, aimed to deliver affordable healthcare to every section of society. Organizers said more than 5,000 residents — men, women, children and elderly — availed themselves of the free services.
Punjab Governor and Chandigarh Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria, who attended as chief guest, noted that Modi had “given great importance to serving the countrymen since the early days of his political journey.” He added, “Inspired by the teachings of the Sikh Gurus, our esteemed Prime Minister is today serving the society. This health camp is a commendable initiative that has brought doctors and patients together.”
The event brought together over 150 doctors across 17 specialties, supported by more than 500 paramedical staff and volunteers. Specialists ranged from cardiology, gynecology and orthopedics to ophthalmology, pediatrics, dermatology, ENT, psychiatry, Ayurveda and homeopathy. Organizers said free medicines and eyeglasses were distributed, while a blood donation drive in collaboration with the BBMB and Red Cross collected nearly 100 units.
The camp also included targeted services for women and children under the Swasth Nari, Sashakt Parivar Abhiyan, a national initiative launched on Sept. 17. According to the plan, more than 10 lakh similar health camps are scheduled across India through Oct. 2.
IMF convener and Rajya Sabha MP Satnam Singh Sandhu and leaders of different religious communities also joined the program.
Locals expressed gratitude to the prime minister for what they described as unprecedented access to affordable health care. “After independence, Prime Minister Modi is the first leader who has provided such high-quality and affordable facilities to ordinary people,” said one resident after receiving treatment.
Doctors at the camp pointed to wider reforms, citing Jan Aushadhi Kendras and Ayushman Bharat as “revolutionary schemes.” They noted that more than 62 crore Indians are already covered under Ayushman Bharat — the world’s largest health insurance program — with over 30 crore beneficiaries being women.
“Every section of India is happy with PM Modi because of initiatives like Ayushman Bharat,” one doctor said. “Now, with reduced GST on health products, 33 essential medicines have become cheaper.” Officials added that health and term insurance policies are exempt from GST, lowering policy costs by up to 18 percent.
Governor Kataria said healthcare, once neglected, had become “an integral part of governance” under Modi. “Every healthy Indian will help build a strong India,” he noted, adding that the prime minister had raised India’s global standing to “unprecedented heights.”
The health camp concluded with residents receiving treatment and medicines, and with doctors underscoring the government’s ongoing push to expand quality healthcare access nationwide.
