Patna: The Bihar government has taken another big step to improve healthcare and medical education in the state. The cabinet has approved the opening of new government medical colleges and hospitals in seven districts – Kishanganj, Katihar, Rohtas, Sheohar, Lakhisarai, Arwal and Sheikhpura. Chief minister Nitish Kumar has been repeating in his public speeches that his government wants to set up one medical college in every district, and this decision has brought that goal closer to reality.
At present, Bihar has 15 medical colleges in operation. Of these, 12 are run by the state government, while three are managed by the Centre, including AIIMS Patna and ESIC Medical College and Hospital in Bihta. Along with these, there are nine private medical colleges in the state, which have also improved the availability of healthcare services for the people. Officials said that once the seven newly approved colleges and 20 others under construction become functional, Bihar will have 42 medical colleges in total.
The growth is remarkable compared to the situation in 2005, when Nitish Kumar first became chief minister. At that time, Bihar had only six medical colleges. In less than two decades, the number has multiplied several times. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also laid the foundation stone for a second AIIMS in Darbhanga in November 2024, which will further strengthen advanced healthcare facilities in the state once completed.
The state is not just building new colleges, but also redeveloping older ones. The Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH), the oldest in the state, is undergoing a major upgrade. It is being transformed into a 5,462-bed hospital at a cost of Rs 5,540 crore. In May this year, chief minister Nitish Kumar inaugurated the first phase of this project by opening the newly built twin towers with more than 1,100 beds. The redevelopment of PMCH is expected to be fully completed by March 2027, making it one of the largest hospitals in the country.
Other well-known institutions are also being expanded. The Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS) in Patna is being developed as a 3,000-bed hospital. Five other older government medical colleges are also being upgraded to have 2,500 beds each. Officials said these projects will not only improve infrastructure but will also reduce the pressure on existing hospitals, which often struggle with overcrowding.
Health department sources explained that the 20 medical colleges currently under construction are spread across districts like Jamui, Buxar, Siwan, Ara, Vaishali, Begusarai, Madhubani, Sitamarhi, Supaul and Munger. The Darbhanga AIIMS is among these projects. Once these are completed, along with the newly approved seven, almost every district of Bihar will have its own medical college, something that was unthinkable 20 years ago.
The government believes this expansion will bring several benefits. For ordinary citizens, it means better access to healthcare services closer to home, rather than having to travel long distances to big cities. For young people, it will mean more opportunities to study medicine within Bihar, without the need to leave the state for higher education. Experts also say that the presence of more medical colleges will create jobs for doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers, while boosting the local economy in the districts where the colleges are located.
Officials highlighted that the increase in private medical colleges has also played an important role. Nine private institutions are already functional in Bihar, providing training and treatment facilities. Together with the government-run institutions, these colleges have expanded the state’s healthcare network to a level that is far stronger than it was two decades ago.
In the words of one senior official: “In 2005, Bihar had just six medical colleges. Soon the number will rise to 42. This shows the scale of transformation in healthcare and education. The government’s aim is not just to increase numbers, but to make sure that quality medical services are available to every citizen.”
