Patna: Patna’s Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS) is set to witness a major expansion in August with the scheduled inauguration of a 1,200-bed hospital and a 500-bed medicine block. The decision was taken during a meeting of the IGIMS governing body, chaired by Bihar Health Minister Mangal Pandey.
Officials from the Bihar Medical Services and Infrastructure Corporation Limited (BMSICL) have been directed to complete the final phase of construction — which includes three wings for the remaining 300 beds — by mid-August, with an aim to launch the new buildings ahead of Independence Day.
In addition to infrastructure expansion, the governing body approved the appointment of nine new doctors for the Regional Eye Institute. A proposal to purchase advanced medical simulators for postgraduate (PG) students also received the green light. These simulators are designed to replicate real-life surgical environments, helping doctors practise complex procedures involving breathing, heartbeat, bleeding, and eye movement.
An assistant professor will also be appointed in the Department of Nuclear Medicine, while new hostels for students and a lecture hall are planned. The institute will also introduce a ward-care monitoring service.
A significant development was the approval of a long-pending proposal to establish the Postgraduate Institute of Dental Education and Research at IGIMS. To be located near the Nuclear Medicine building, this new facility will offer postgraduate courses across all dental departments, addressing the current shortage of advanced dental education in the state — where only two PG seats are presently available.
The meeting was attended by several senior officials, including the health minister’s private secretary Amitabh Singh, IGIMS director Dr Binde Kumar, and Padma Shri awardee Dr Vijay Prakash.
