Patna: Bihar is set to expand access to healthcare in rural areas, with the state government planning to upgrade 135 Primary Health Centres (PHCs) across all 38 districts into Community Health Centres (CHCs). Alongside the infrastructure upgrade, the Health Department has also announced new postings for four senior medical officers.
According to a departmental notification, each upgraded centre will have a capacity of 30 beds and a sanctioned strength of 47 posts. The staffing structure will include a deputy superintendent, specialist doctors, nurses, laboratory technicians and other healthcare personnel.
Specialist Doctors to Be Posted at Upgraded Centres
The new CHCs will have specialist doctors in areas including orthopaedics, ophthalmology and ENT (ear, nose and throat). The proposed staffing structure is intended to expand the range of medical services available at the centres.
The upgrade aims to reduce the need for rural patients to travel long distances for treatment by bringing more advanced healthcare facilities closer to their homes.
Initiative Under Saat Nischay-3
The conversion of PHCs into CHCs is being undertaken under the state government’s Saat Nischay-3 programme. The initiative is part of efforts to modernise rural healthcare infrastructure and strengthen medical services across Bihar.
Four Senior Medical Officers Get New Responsibilities
In a separate administrative decision, the Health Department has assigned new responsibilities to four senior medical officers.
Dr Jitendra Nath Singh, Dr Mala Srivastava and Dr Sanjay Kumar have been assigned the responsibility of Director-in-Chief, Health Services. Dr Sanjay Kumar’s new posting will take effect from December 1, 2026.
Dr Vijay Prakash Rai has been appointed Additional Director (Headquarters), Health Services.
Officials Asked to Join New Postings
The department has directed all the concerned officers to join their new places of posting immediately, subject to the specified effective date for Dr Sanjay Kumar.
The two decisions cover both the expansion of rural healthcare infrastructure and administrative changes within Bihar’s Health Department.
