Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday inspected the ongoing construction of the new 1,200-bed hospital and residential complex at the Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS) in Sheikhpura, Patna. During the visit, officials briefed the CM about the rapid progress of the project, which is nearing completion.
The CM directed the officers to accelerate pending works and ensure that the multi-specialty hospital is completed on schedule. Once operational, the facility is expected to significantly improve access to advanced medical care in Bihar, further strengthening the state’s healthcare infrastructure.
Expansion of Healthcare Services in Bihar
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar highlighted the government’s focus on healthcare since taking office on 24 November 2005, emphasizing that public health has been a priority alongside broader development initiatives.
He noted that prior to 2006, primary health centers (PHCs) in Bihar served an average of only 39 patients per month, meaning just one or two patients daily. After the introduction of free treatment and medicines, patient inflow has surged dramatically, with PHCs now seeing an average of 11,600 patients per month.
Medical Education and Infrastructure Development
The CM also outlined plans to strengthen medical education and healthcare infrastructure across Bihar:
- The number of medical colleges in Bihar has increased from 6 to 12.
- Patna Medical College & Hospital (PMCH) is being expanded to 5,400 beds.
- Five older medical colleges are being upgraded to 2,500 beds each.
- The total capacity of IGIMS will be increased to 3,000 beds.
These expansions aim to improve the quality and accessibility of healthcare services for the people of Bihar.
Bihar to Boost Industrial Development
In addition to healthcare initiatives, the Bihar government plans to identify government land plots of five acres or more for industrial development. These plots will be pre-marked and kept ready for immediate allocation on demand. Revenue department officials have been directed to provide detailed information to all collectors by 15 March 2026, ensuring streamlined industrial growth and investment.
Senior Officials Present During Inspection
Several senior officials accompanied CM Nitish Kumar during the IGIMS inspection, including:
- Deepak Kumar, Principal Secretary
- Pratyay Amrit, Chief Secretary
- Lokesh Kumar Singh, Health Secretary
- Kumar Ravi and Dr. Chandrashekhar Singh, CM Secretariat
- Himanshu Sharma, Special Secretary, Health Department
- Amit Kumar Pandey, MD, Bihar Medical Service & Infrastructure Corporation Ltd.
- Prof. (Dr.) Binde Kumar, Director, IGIMS
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