Bhagalpur: Bhagalpur district is set to see a major improvement in healthcare services with the construction of nine new hospitals in different Nagar Panchayat areas. These facilities, officially known as Urban Health and Wellness Centres, will be built to ensure that people living in urban blocks can access medical treatment closer to their homes. The move is aimed at strengthening basic healthcare and reducing pressure on major hospitals in the district.
The hospitals will be constructed in the Nagar Panchayat areas of Kahalgaon, Habibpur, Sabour, Akbarnagar, Pirpainti, Ajgaivinathdham and Naugachhia. Earlier, the health department had proposed 11 such centres, but approval has been given for nine. After receiving the government order, the civil surgeon of Bhagalpur has started the process and written to officials to identify suitable land so that construction work can begin without delay.
For patients, this decision is expected to bring significant relief. At present, people from these urban areas often have to travel to Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College Hospital (JLNMC) or the Sadar Hospital at the district headquarters, even for minor health problems. Once the new centres become operational, patients will be able to get treatment closer to home. The hospitals are expected to have doctors, nurses and basic diagnostic facilities, making everyday healthcare more accessible and affordable.
However, arranging land for the hospitals remains a challenge. Each centre will require about 2,100 square feet of land, and circle officers are reportedly finding it difficult to identify suitable plots, especially in urban areas. In the past, delays in land allocation had slowed down similar health projects, sometimes taking several years. Health officials have now requested local authorities to speed up the process, as funds under the 15th Finance Commission have already been approved and early availability of land will help ensure that construction starts on time.
