Patna: In a significant step towards improving Bihar’s public health system, Health Minister Mangal Pandey on Tuesday handed over appointment letters to 694 senior medical officers at a ceremony in Patna. These officers will be deployed across all 38 districts of the state to strengthen healthcare services.
Key Appointments:
- 447 full-time medical officers under the National Urban Health Mission (NUHM)
- 3 officers for the National Tuberculosis Control Programme
- 145 medical officers for Nutrition Rehabilitation Centres, blood banks, collection units, and District Early Intervention Centres under the National Child Health Programme
- 99 second medical officers have also joined the system
This recruitment drive comes at a time when Bihar is facing an acute shortage of healthcare personnel. According to the CAG report, only 4,741 allopathic doctors were in position out of the sanctioned 11,298 posts as of March 2023—a 58% shortfall.
Larger Recruitment Push Underway
Speaking to media, Mangal Pandey revealed that recruitment for 6,000 more doctors and assistant professors is in progress and expected to be completed within two-and-a-half months. The government is also:
- Recruiting 4,500 community health officers
- Appointing Ayush practitioners
- Conducting regular and contractual hiring of nurses, paramedics, medical officers, and specialists
In the last 10 days alone, over 8,800 medical staff have been appointed:
- 1,450 doctors and specialists
- 509 doctors through bond postings
- 7,468 Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs)—the largest ANM intake since 2019
‘No Shortage of Funds for Health’: Minister
Minister Pandey credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for prioritising healthcare and ensuring uninterrupted financial support.
“They never allowed a lack of funds to hinder Bihar’s medical infrastructure development,” Pandey said.
He added that transparency and accessibility are the focus of Bihar’s current healthcare reforms, aiming to expand treatment options and bolster grassroots health services.
