Patna: Bihar’s chief minister, Nitish Kumar, on Saturday inspected the construction of a new 1,200-bed hospital and residential complex at the Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS) in Sheikhpura, Patna. Officials informed him that the construction work is progressing quickly and is expected to be completed soon. During the visit, Kumar directed concerned authorities to speed up the remaining work and ensure timely completion.
The new hospital is being developed as a modern multi-super-specialty facility aimed at improving access to advanced medical care in Bihar. Once operational, the additional 1,200 beds are expected to reduce overcrowding and provide relief to patients who often face long waiting times. The residential building under construction will offer accommodation for doctors and medical staff, which officials say will help in maintaining better services and emergency response.
Highlighting the state’s progress in the health sector, the chief minister said that when his government first came to power in November 2005, primary health centres saw very few patients — around 39 per month. After improvements in infrastructure and the introduction of free medicines and treatment in government hospitals from 2006, patient footfall increased sharply. At present, an average of 11,600 patients visit primary health centres every month, according to government figures.
Kumar also spoke about the expansion of medical education and hospital infrastructure across the state. Bihar earlier had six medical colleges, but now the number has doubled to 12. The Patna Medical College and Hospital is being expanded to 5,400 beds, while five other older medical colleges are being upgraded to 2,500 beds each. IGIMS itself is planned to expand to a total capacity of 3,000 beds in the coming years, making it one of the largest government-run health institutions in the region.
Senior officials, including top administrative and health department officers, were present during the inspection. The state government says the completion of the new hospital complex will mark another major step in strengthening Bihar’s public healthcare system.
