Union Health Minister and BJP National President JP Nadda announced that construction on the highly anticipated All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Darbhanga, 140 km northeast of Patna, will commence shortly. Speaking at the inauguration of a state-of-the-art 154-bed Regional Institute of Ophthalmology (RIO) building at the Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS) in Patna, Nadda said, “A new agency has been appointed, and structural designs are being prepared. Soon, we will have an impressive AIIMS in Darbhanga.”
Nadda also revealed his plans to visit Darbhanga to inspect the land. Despite its low-lying nature, he expressed gratitude to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for allocating 182 acres for the AIIMS project. The Bihar government has extended financial support for land preparation.
Expansion of Healthcare Infrastructure in Bihar
During the event, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar reflected on the 2003 approval of AIIMS Patna by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, noting its current success in serving the state. Nadda further highlighted the healthcare achievements of the Modi government over the past decade, emphasizing the expansion of AIIMS across India. “There were only six AIIMS institutions before, but now we are establishing 22,” he said.
Additionally, Nadda mentioned the Centre’s approval of 75 new medical colleges, including five super-specialty centers in Bihar, as part of a broader effort to enhance medical infrastructure in the country.
Ayushman Bharat: India’s Largest Health Coverage Program
The Union Health Minister also lauded the Ayushman Bharat scheme, which provides health coverage to 55 crore individuals, offering up to ₹5 lakh for medical treatments. “India now has the world’s largest health coverage program,” Nadda proudly stated, adding that the country leads in terms of universal health coverage.
Major Health Projects in Bihar
In his remarks, Nadda applauded IGIMS, noting that the institution not only serves Bihar but also caters to patients from neighboring states like Bengal and Odisha, as well as from Nepal. The newly inaugurated RIO building at IGIMS will offer advanced cornea and refractive surgeries, along with treatments for glaucoma, vitreoretina, and oculoplastic conditions. The cutting-edge facility will enhance eye care services in the region.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, while reflecting on Bihar’s healthcare growth, shared plans to increase IGIMS’ capacity from 770 to over 3,000 beds. Additional medical projects are underway, including upgrading several state-run hospitals and medical colleges, such as Patna Medical College Hospital (PMCH), which will become the largest in the country with 5,462 beds.
Continued Progress and Upcoming Projects
Nadda also inaugurated several health projects worth ₹850 crore, laying the foundation for further improvements in Bihar’s healthcare system. He visited Bhagalpur and Gaya to inaugurate super-specialty blocks at Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College Hospital and Anugrah Narayan Magadh Medical College Hospital, respectively. On Saturday, he is scheduled to visit Patna Medical College Hospital to assess the progress of its new super-specialty wing before traveling to Darbhanga to inspect the AIIMS project site.
