Patna: The Bihar government has renewed its technical partnership with the Gates Foundation for the next five years, continuing a collaboration that has been in place since 2010. The renewed agreement aims not only to implement development schemes but also to institutionally strengthen Bihar’s health system and enhance rural development initiatives.
Agreement Renewal Ceremony
The agreement was signed at the old secretariat hall in Patna in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary and Health Minister Mangal Pandey. On behalf of the Bihar government, Chief Secretary Pratyay Amrit signed the document, while Archana Vyas, India Director of the Gates Foundation, represented the foundation.
The agreement will come into effect from April 2026 and will focus on institutional capacity building alongside scheme implementation.
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Key Areas of Focus
The renewed collaboration will prioritize the following sectors:
- Reducing maternal and child mortality rates
- Expanding full immunization coverage
- Accelerating nutrition improvement programs
- Strengthening digital health systems and data management
- Training and capacity building of health workers
- Ensuring access to quality health services in rural and remote areas
- Integrating agriculture and rural development for livelihood enhancement
- Providing technical advice and monitoring for policy formulation
Improving Health Indicators
Deputy CM Samrat Chaudhary said the partnership will accelerate Bihar’s progress toward 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Health Minister Mangal Pandey highlighted that the maternal mortality ratio has dropped to 104, with a target to reduce it further to 70. Institutional delivery rates have reached 76.2%, and full immunization coverage is now 93%.
Chief Secretary Pratyay Amrit added that the Gates Foundation will provide technical expertise, global experience, data-driven strategies, policy guidance, and training, helping ensure quality healthcare reaches even the most remote and backward regions.
Strengthening Bihar’s Health and Rural Development
The renewed partnership underscores the state government’s commitment to enhancing maternal and child health, nutrition, digital health systems, and rural livelihoods. By combining international expertise with local initiatives, Bihar aims to improve health outcomes, strengthen institutional capacity, and achieve SDG-aligned targets by 2030.
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