Patna: Bihar, once criticised for its neglected and crumbling health infrastructure, is undergoing a sweeping transformation to emerge as a model state for healthcare. In the past, limited resources and an acute shortage of doctors forced residents to travel outside the state for treatment. But since 2005, under the leadership of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Bihar’s health sector has seen significant progress and is now preparing to deliver world-class facilities to its own people and those from neighbouring states.
According to Health Department data, in 2005, Bihar had only six government medical colleges. Over the last two decades, that number has risen to 11, with work underway on four additional colleges. The state aims to establish medical colleges in almost every district, with plans for new colleges in nine districts, taking the total count to 15 in the near future.
In a major boost, existing hospitals are being upgraded to super-speciality facilities. Patna Medical College Hospital (PMCH) will have a proposed capacity of 5,462 beds, making it Asia’s second-largest hospital. Other colleges such as Nalanda Medical College, Darbhanga Medical College, Sri Krishna Medical College in Muzaffarpur, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College in Bhagalpur, and Anugrah Narayan Medical College in Gaya will each have 2,500 beds.
This infrastructural expansion is complemented by a wave of recruitments. In 2024 alone, 1,431 doctors were recruited, including 228 on May 31 and 694 senior doctors holding postgraduate degrees on June 10. Additionally, 7,468 nurses have been appointed, significantly enhancing the availability of specialist services in rural areas.
Recruitment continues across the sector. The Bihar Technical Service Commission is processing appointments for 4,200 posts, while recruitment of dentists is also on the cards. Further, the appointment of 1,800 assistant professors in medical colleges is in the pipeline. In 2019, 6,200 doctors were recruited, highlighting the state’s consistent push towards strengthening healthcare human resources.
Bihar’s health services received a significant upgrade with the establishment of AIIMS Patna, approved in 2003 and now fully operational. A second AIIMS in Darbhanga is under construction, with 150 acres of land identified for the project. Once completed, Bihar will become the second state in India to host two AIIMS facilities.
The expansion of healthcare infrastructure and human resources signals Bihar’s shift from self-reliance to becoming an exporter of health services. The upcoming redevelopment of PMCH into a world-class hospital will enable Bihar to cater to patients from Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bengal, and beyond.
