Patna: The government in the eastern Indian state has announced an ambitious expansion of healthcare training infrastructure designed to address a persistent shortage of skilled nursing and paramedical staff. The plan includes setting up one Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM) training institute in each of the state’s nine administrative divisions, alongside a General Nursing and Midwifery (GNM) institute and a paramedical college in every district.
The initiative will be rolled out from the 2026–27 financial year under the Saat Nischay–III development programme. Officials say the establishment process is expected to be completed within a year, allowing training programmes to begin soon after infrastructure and regulatory approvals are finalised.
Health authorities cited growing demand for medical services and staffing gaps in hospitals as key reasons behind the decision. By creating district-level training facilities, the government hopes to expand local access to nursing and paramedical education, particularly for students in rural and semi-urban areas who often migrate to other states for professional courses.
The policy is also expected to strengthen frontline healthcare delivery by ensuring a steady supply of trained personnel across primary health centres, community health centres and district hospitals. Officials say ANM and GNM institutes will play a critical role in improving maternal and child health services, an area where workforce shortages have long affected outcomes.
Paramedical colleges proposed under the scheme aim to produce laboratory technicians, radiographers, pharmacists and other allied health professionals, addressing technical workforce gaps that constrain diagnostic and treatment capacity. The health department has directed district administrations to identify suitable land parcels and prepare infrastructure plans to accelerate implementation.
