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In a significant move to strengthen healthcare infrastructure in Bihar, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for AIIMS Darbhanga today. This new AIIMS, the second in Bihar after AIIMS Patna, aims to serve not only the state but also neighboring regions, including West Bengal and Eastern Uttar Pradesh, as well as patients from Nepal.
Dignitaries attending the event included Bihar Governor Shri Rajendra Arlekar, Chief Minister Shri Nitish Kumar, Union Minister of Food Processing Industries Shri Chirag Paswan, Bihar’s Deputy Chief Ministers Shri Samrat Choudhary and Shri Vijay Kumar Sinha, Union MoS for Home Affairs Shri Nityanand Rai, and Health Minister of Bihar Shri Mangal Pandey.
Prime Minister Modi addressed the gathering, underscoring the transformative impact AIIMS Darbhanga would have on Bihar’s healthcare sector. “The foundation stone laying of AIIMS Darbhanga will give a big boost to the healthcare sector in Bihar, benefiting people from Mithila, Koshi, and Tirhut regions,” he said, adding that the facility will also serve patients from Nepal.
A Holistic Approach to Healthcare
In his address, Prime Minister Modi outlined the government’s five-fold approach to healthcare: promoting preventive health, ensuring accurate diagnosis, making healthcare affordable, improving access to healthcare in smaller towns, and harnessing technology to enhance healthcare delivery. Emphasizing preventive health, he pointed to lifestyle initiatives such as Yoga, Ayurveda, and Fit India, as well as infrastructure projects like Swachh Bharat, which aims to promote cleanliness and reduce disease transmission.
Reflecting on the healthcare system’s evolution, he noted, “The past saw a severe shortage of hospitals, doctors, and diagnostic centers. But today, we are changing that reality with initiatives like Ayushman Bharat, which has enabled over four crore patients to access affordable hospital care.” Under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, families have saved an estimated ₹1.25 lakh crore in medical expenses, alleviating the financial burden on millions of households.
Expansion of Healthcare and Education Facilities
Prime Minister Modi highlighted recent efforts to expand healthcare and medical education, noting that for six decades after independence, only one AIIMS existed. The current government has expanded the network, establishing nearly 24 AIIMS across the country, doubling the number of medical colleges and adding over 1 lakh new medical seats in the last decade. Plans to add 75,000 more seats in the coming years will further alleviate the shortage of doctors and healthcare professionals.
Addressing the specific needs of Bihar, he announced that AIIMS Darbhanga will be a state-of-the-art facility with a 750-bed hospital, an AYUSH block, a medical college with 125 seats, and a nursing college with 60 seats. It will offer super-specialty services, residential facilities, and amenities for patients’ families. Built with an investment of ₹1,264 crore, the campus will span 187 acres on the Ekmi-Shobhan bypass in Darbhanga.
Prime Minister Modi also announced new developments in cancer care, with a treatment facility under construction in Muzaffarpur. This facility aims to provide comprehensive cancer care to Bihar, eliminating the need for patients to travel to Delhi or Mumbai for treatment. Additionally, a new eye hospital is being established in Bihar following his request to Kanchi Kamakoti Shri Shankarcharya ji, inspired by the Sankara Eye Hospital inaugurated recently in Varanasi.
Boost to Socio-Economic Growth in Bihar
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expressed optimism for the project, stating that AIIMS Darbhanga would not only improve healthcare but also spur socio-economic growth in the region. “AIIMS Darbhanga will be a catalyst for overall development in the area,” he said.
Background and Vision for AIIMS Darbhanga
The establishment of AIIMS Darbhanga is part of the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY), which has seen the approval of 22 AIIMS institutions nationwide. This new facility in Darbhanga is designed to provide affordable, world-class healthcare to people across Bihar, particularly those in districts like Muzaffarpur, Samastipur, Sitamarhi, Madhubani, Saharsa, Purnia, Khagaria, and Katihar, as well as parts of West Bengal and Eastern Uttar Pradesh. AIIMS Darbhanga is envisioned as a milestone in achieving a healthier and more prosperous India, aligning with the mission of Swasth Bharat, Samruddh Bharat (Healthy India, Prosperous India).
