Patna, Bihar has retained its position as the leading state in India for the provision of free essential medicines to patients, according to the latest performance metrics released by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
In the ranking for October 2025, Bihar scored 81.35 points out of 100, widening its lead over Rajasthan (77.77 points) and Punjab (71.80 points), which placed second and third respectively. The state first claimed the top spot in October 2024 with 79.34 points, displacing Rajasthan, and has held the position uninterrupted for the past 13 months.
The Health Ministry’s assessment forms part of the National Health Mission’s monitoring of the Free Drugs Service Initiative, under which states are evaluated on stock availability, supply-chain efficiency, and transparency in distribution at public health facilities.
Bihar’s sustained performance is attributed to a combination of logistical upgrades and digital oversight. The state now operates a fleet of 165 GPS-enabled drug transport vehicles to ensure time-bound delivery to remote primary health centres and sub-centres. Additionally, QR codes displayed at all 10,626 public health institutions allow patients to check real-time medicine availability on their smartphones, a measure intended to reduce out-of-pocket expenditure and dependence on private pharmacies.
State health authorities report that the network serves approximately 65 million outpatient visits annually, with a significant majority receiving prescribed medicines free of cost at the point of care.
The achievement comes against the backdrop of Bihar’s historically under-resourced public health system and offers a rare positive headline for the Nitish Kumar administration, which has made universal access to essential drugs a flagship programme since 2018.
While the ranking reflects only the supply-side efficiency and not clinical outcomes or patient satisfaction, independent surveys have previously noted a marked decline in households selling assets or borrowing to buy medicines in the state.
The Ministry’s next quarterly update is scheduled for release in January 2026.
