PATNA, July 11 -- Leading opposition parties have questioned the government move to mobilise manpower and resources across the state to hold a two-day health fair at the Gyan Bhawan and the Bapu auditorium here, beginning Friday, and dubbed it a "poll gimmick", even as the state health department is pulling all stops to make the event successful. Bihar goes to polls later this year. "There is little logic behind organising such a health camp in Patna, which already has five medical colleges - Patna Medical College Hospital (PMCH), Nalanda Medical College Hospital, Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS), All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and the ESIC Medical College Hospital - besides the Guru Gobind Singh district hospital, the Gardiner Road super specialty centre, Gardanibagh hospital, Lok Nayak Jay Prakash Narayan Hospital among other health facilities in peripheries," said Mrityunjay Tiwary, state spokesperson of the RJD. "What was the need to convert a venue used generally for political functions and other events into a mini hospital, especially when the PMCH is barely 1km, while the NMCH and the IGIMS are within a 6km radius of the venue? The government would have done better by holding such camps at the district level in a staggered manner across the state, instead of confining it in Patna, at a venue used generally for political functions," added Tiwary. "The government is wasting public money on its self portrayal in an election year," the RJD leader added. Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee (BPCC) president Rajesh Kumar, a two-time legislator, said, "Can any patient coming to the health fair be treated in just two days? The government is interested only in building infrastructure of concrete, where huge money is involved, while leaving a majority of positions vacant in the health sector." "No doubt beautiful buildings have come up, but there is an acute dearth of doctors, specialists, nursing and paramedical staff in any health facility. Go to any health facility and many positions are vacant. The government cannot conceal its deficiencies behind such camps," said Kumar. The opposition leaders alleged the government had spent crores in organising the health fair to showcase its achievements in an election year. "By converting an auditorium into a mini hospital for just two days, the government has not only wasted public money, but derailed the healthcare system in facilities from where resources have been drawn for the two-day camp and also exposed that its health system is skewed, especially in rural areas," said a doctor requesting anonymity. Health minister Mangal Pandey, however, said the government was committed to increasing the quality, reach and public awareness of health services towards health programmes through such camps. The health fair, the first of its kind in the state, would give a glimpse of the modern health facilities available in the state. Departmental schemes, new technologies and initiatives taken for improvement in the health sector will be showcased, said a press release from Pandey's office. Separate counters of all major medical systems like allopathy, ayurveda, homeopathy, Unani and yoga will be set up at the health fair. Around 50 outdoor patient department (OPD) counters of various departments will also be available at the health fair. Besides health checkup, vaccination, discussion and cultural programmes, would also be organised. People will be able to avail of modern health services like tele medicine, AI-based equipment and Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) platform. A host of other facilities like vision centre, non-communicable disease clinic, physiotherapy, HPV vaccination, wellness room, data analytical centre, pathology tests, ultrasound, eye examination, cardiology, oral hygiene, paediatrics, ECG, physiotherapy, HIV, echocardiography, pathology, family planning, youth clinic, skin and gynaecology, mental health, adolescent health, medicine distribution, screening of breast cancer, oral cancer and cervical cancer etc. will also be available for the people, said the release quoting Pandey....