In a landmark development towards strengthening Bihar’s tertiary health care infrastructure and services, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of AIIMS Darbhanga in Darbhanga, Bihar, today. AIIMS Darbhanga will be the second AIIMS in Bihar after AIIMS Patna.

Shri Rajendra Arlekar, Governor, Bihar; Shri Nitish Kumar, Chief Minister, Bihar; Shri Chirag Paswan, Union Minister of Food Processing Industries; Shri Samrat Choudhary and Shri Vijay Kumar Sinha, Deputy Chief Ministers, Bihar; Shri Nityanand Rai, Union MoS, Ministry of Home Affairs and Shri Mangal Pandey, Health Minister, Bihar were among the dignitaries present on the occasion.

Addressing the gathering, Prime Minister said, “the foundation stone laying of AIIMS Darbhanga will give a big boost to the healthcare sector in Bihar. Besides catering to Mithila, Koshi and Tirhut sectors of Bihar, people residing in West Bengal and nearby areas will also be benefitted by the project.” He also added that “patients coming from Nepal will also be able to get themselves treated in AIIMS Darbhanga”.

Prime Minister highlighted that the majority of India's population consists of the poor and middle class, who are most affected by illness, often resulting in significant out-of-pocket expenses for medical treatment. He expressed his understanding of the distress a family faces when a member falls ill. Reflecting on the past, Prime Minister noted that the country's healthcare infrastructure was severely inadequate, with a shortage of hospitals, doctors, and diagnostic or research centers, along with high medicine costs. He emphasized that the nation's progress had been hindered due to these healthcare challenges, particularly for the underprivileged. As a result, he stated, there was a shift in mindset and approach to address these issues.

Prime Minister emphasized this shift towards adopting a holistic approach to the healthcare sector, highlighting five key areas of focus. “The first priority is preventive health, followed by ensuring accurate diagnosis of diseases. The third focus is on providing affordable or free healthcare and medicines to citizens. The fourth area aims to improve healthcare access in smaller towns and address the shortage of doctors and finally, the fifth focus is on leveraging technology to enhance healthcare delivery,” he stated.

Prime Minister emphasized the government's focus on promoting Yoga, Ayurveda, nutrition, and the Fit India Movement. He pointed out that unhealthy diets, such as the consumption of junk food, and poor lifestyle choices were major contributors to common health issues. Prime Minister also highlighted the government's efforts to address these challenges through initiatives like Swachh Bharat, the provision of toilets in every home, and tap water connections, all of which aim to promote cleanliness and reduce the spread of diseases.

Prime Minister observed that many diseases could be less severe if detected early, but the high cost of diagnostics had often prevented people from seeking timely medical attention. To address this, he noted the establishment of over 1.5 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs across the country, which will assist in the early detection of illnesses. He also mentioned that over 4 crore patients had been treated under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, pointing out that without this program, many patients might have been unable to afford hospital care. Prime Minister stated that the Ayushman Bharat Scheme had alleviated the financial burden for many poor families, with approximately ₹1.25 lakh crore saved by millions of households.

Reaffirming the government's commitment to provide free treatment for senior citizens over 70 years of age, Prime Minister noted that free treatment for senior citizens has already begun, regardless of family income, and announced that all beneficiaries would soon receive an Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card. He also mentioned the Jan Aushadhi Kendras, which provide affordable medicines.

Focusing on improving healthcare in smaller towns, Prime Minister pointed out that for 60 years after India’s independence, there was only one AIIMS hospital in the country. He highlighted that the current government has not only addressed healthcare needs but has also established new AIIMS institutions across India, bringing the total number to around 24. He informed the audience that the number of medical colleges has doubled in the past decade, leading to an increase in the number of doctors. He added that the AIIMS in Darbhanga would help produce many new doctors who would serve Bihar and the entire nation. Prime Minister also mentioned the push for higher education in regional languages, including Hindi, as a tribute to the vision of Karpuri Thakur ji. He reported that in the last 10 years, 1 lakh new medical seats have been added, with plans to increase that number by another 75,000 over the next five years. Additionally, options to study medicine in Hindi and other regional languages has been made available.

Turning to cancer care, the Prime Minister underscored the government’s efforts to combat the disease. He shared that a new cancer treatment facility was being built in Muzaffarpur, which would provide comprehensive care for cancer patients in Bihar, eliminating the need for them to travel to cities like Delhi or Mumbai. He also announced the upcoming establishment of a new eye hospital in Bihar, following a request he had made to the Kanchi Kamakoti Shri Shankarcharya ji, inspired by the recently inaugurated Sankara Eye Hospital in Varanasi. Work on this eye hospital is in progress.

Expressing his elation on the occasion, Shri Nitish Kumar said that AIIMS Darbhanga will improve the healthcare scenario not only in Darbhanga but in the entire region. He stated that AIIMS Darbhanga will also propel other socio-economic developments in the region.

Background Note on AIIMS Darbhanga:

Under Pradhan Mantri Swasthaya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY), till date, 22 All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) have been approved. Out of these 2 AIIMS have been approved in the State of Bihar: one in Patna and the other in Darbhanga. The Bhoomi Poojan for AIIMS at Darbhanga was performed by Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today.

AIIMS Darbhanga is being established at a cost of Rs. 1264 Crore on 187 Acre land located at Ekmi-Shobhan bypass in Darbhanga. It will have 750 bedded super-specialty Hospital/AYUSH BLOCK, Medical College with 125 seats, Nursing College with 60 seats, a Night shelter for patients and their attendants, Residential facilities for doctors, students and staff etc. AIIMS Darbhanga will provide state of the art affordable world class tertiary health care facilities to the people of Bihar including nearby districts of Muzaffarpur, Samastipur, Sitamadhi, Madhubani, Saharsa, Purnia, Khagadia, Katihar etc and also to the people of nearby districts of West Bengal and Eastern Uttar Pradesh. AIIMS Darbhanga will significantly contribute in achieving the mission of Swasth Bharat, Samruddh Bharat.

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HFW/PM Foundation Stone Laying of AIIMS Darbhanga/13November2024/1