Darbhanga: In a historic step to strengthen Bihar’s healthcare infrastructure, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of AIIMS Darbhanga today, marking it as the second All India Institute of Medical Sciences in the state after AIIMS Patna. The new AIIMS is set to provide advanced healthcare services to the Mithila, Koshi, and Tirhut regions, and is expected to benefit not only Bihar but also patients from neighboring states and Nepal.
The event was attended by a host of dignitaries, including Bihar’s Governor, Rajendra Arlekar, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Union Minister of Food Processing Industries Chirag Paswan, Bihar’s Deputy Chief Ministers Samrat Choudhary and Shri Vijay Kumar Sinha, Union MoS for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai, and Bihar Health Minister Shri Mangal Pandey.
Addressing the gathering, Prime Minister Modi emphasized the transformative impact of AIIMS Darbhanga on healthcare accessibility in Bihar, stating, “This new AIIMS will not only enhance healthcare in Bihar but also serve as a crucial medical center for people from neighboring regions.” He underscored that AIIMS Darbhanga would ease access to specialized medical services, reducing the need for patients to travel far for treatment.
Prime Minister Modi highlighted how the country’s previous healthcare challenges disproportionately affected the poor and middle class, often forcing families to bear high out-of-pocket medical expenses. Reflecting on the past, he said, “The nation’s healthcare infrastructure was once severely lacking, but we have adopted a holistic approach to overcome these barriers.”
He outlined five key areas of focus for the government’s healthcare approach: promoting preventive health, ensuring timely diagnosis, providing affordable care, improving healthcare access in smaller towns, and leveraging technology. He further emphasized the role of preventive measures like Yoga, Ayurveda, the Fit India Movement, Swachh Bharat, and clean water initiatives, aimed at reducing the spread of diseases.
Addressing affordability in diagnostics, the Prime Minister noted the establishment of over 1.5 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs across India to aid early illness detection. He mentioned that over 4 crore patients had already received treatment under Ayushman Bharat, resulting in financial savings of around ₹1.25 lakh crore for poor households. He also announced an Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card for senior citizens, entitling those over 70 to free treatment, regardless of income.
The Prime Minister spoke about the government’s efforts to expand healthcare facilities in smaller towns and rural areas, pointing out that AIIMS Darbhanga would play a vital role in training new doctors and fulfilling the medical needs of the region. He noted that, prior to 2014, India had only one AIIMS. In contrast, the current government has since established approximately 24 new AIIMS facilities across the country. Furthermore, the number of medical colleges has doubled, and regional language options for medical education have been introduced, with over 1 lakh new medical seats added in the last decade.
Prime Minister Modi also announced the development of a cancer treatment facility in Muzaffarpur and a new eye hospital in Bihar, a project inspired by the Sankara Eye Hospital in Varanasi. These initiatives, he said, will provide comprehensive cancer and eye care in the state, eliminating the need for patients to travel to larger cities.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expressed his appreciation for the new AIIMS, describing it as a catalyst for healthcare and socio-economic growth in the region. “AIIMS Darbhanga will uplift the healthcare sector in the state and propel various developments across the region,” he remarked.
