Patna: Bihar’s health minister Mangal Pandey has announced a massive expansion of healthcare infrastructure, including 1,500 new hospital buildings in rural areas, recruitment of 30,739 personnel, and the establishment of a cancer care research society (CCRS) with a new cancer hospital in Begusarai.
Key Announcements from the Assembly:
- 1,500 new hospitals (PHCs, additional PHCs, and health sub-centres) will be built to strengthen rural healthcare.
- Recruitment of 30,739 personnel for regular government jobs in the health sector.
- New medical colleges and hospitals to be built in seven districts, as announced by CM Nitish Kumar during Pragati Yatra.
- 100-bed paediatric hospital to be constructed in Patna (Work to start in 2025-26).
- Sports injury treatment unit to be set up at Rajbanshi Nagar Orthopaedic Hospital, Patna.
- Rs 900 crore allocated for medicine supplies (Bihar ranked first in India for hospital medicine distribution in the last six months).
- Of 25 district-level Sadar hospitals under construction, 15 are completed, and work continues on the remaining 10.
Healthcare Improvement in Bihar:
- Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) reduced from 61 to 27 deaths per 1,000 live births.
- Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR) dropped from 32 to 21 deaths per 1,000 live births.
The Rs 20,035-crore health budget for 2025-26 was passed by voice vote in the state assembly, marking a significant push toward improving healthcare facilities in Bihar.
