PATNA: In the year 2021, which is drawing to a close, the health sector in Bihar underwent massive changes. While the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic in April and May made life more difficult, its repercussions resulted in the establishment of pressure swing adsorption plants, provision of liquid medical oxygen in different hospitals, and significant infrastructural development in the state.
Bihar’s initial capacity of 57.3 metric tonnes of oxygen per day was increased to 505 metric tonnes by the end of the year. The foundation for 620 health and wellness centres, 124 additional primary health centres, and 72 community health centres spread across 124 assembly constituencies was also laid in 2021.
2021 can also be referred to as the ‘digitalization year’ for Bihar’s health sector. The establishment of a control and command centre brought all of the state’s public health institutes under one roof. Even telemedicine services were launched in February this year, with 6.50 lakh people utilising the service to date, ranking Bihar sixth in the country in this category.
“I will rate this year as extremely difficult. We fought Covid-19 for two and a half months, but our commitment to development work and service did not wane. This has been an incredible year,” health department’s additional chief secretary Pratyaya Amrit told TOI, adding that they began the Covid vaccination drive in January and would reach the 10 crore-mark by Friday.
Chief minister Nitish Kumar laid the groundwork for a slew of projects this year and even inaugurated several health institutes. He laid the foundation for the redevelopment of the Patna Medical College and Hospital into a world-class hospital. He dubbed it his dream project and directed officials to ensure its completion within five years.
On August 10, following the second Covid wave, the health department made a significant leap forward, with the CM laying the groundwork for different projects and even inaugurating several new ones at a cost of Rs 2,705.35 crore. Among the important projects inaugurated that day were a cancer institute at the Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences and a trauma centre at Loknayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital.
The government took another step towards strengthening the health infrastructure by launching or laying the foundation for 772 new projects this year.
Bihar’s initial capacity of 57.3 metric tonnes of oxygen per day was increased to 505 metric tonnes by the end of the year. The foundation for 620 health and wellness centres, 124 additional primary health centres, and 72 community health centres spread across 124 assembly constituencies was also laid in 2021.
2021 can also be referred to as the ‘digitalization year’ for Bihar’s health sector. The establishment of a control and command centre brought all of the state’s public health institutes under one roof. Even telemedicine services were launched in February this year, with 6.50 lakh people utilising the service to date, ranking Bihar sixth in the country in this category.
“I will rate this year as extremely difficult. We fought Covid-19 for two and a half months, but our commitment to development work and service did not wane. This has been an incredible year,” health department’s additional chief secretary Pratyaya Amrit told TOI, adding that they began the Covid vaccination drive in January and would reach the 10 crore-mark by Friday.
Chief minister Nitish Kumar laid the groundwork for a slew of projects this year and even inaugurated several health institutes. He laid the foundation for the redevelopment of the Patna Medical College and Hospital into a world-class hospital. He dubbed it his dream project and directed officials to ensure its completion within five years.
On August 10, following the second Covid wave, the health department made a significant leap forward, with the CM laying the groundwork for different projects and even inaugurating several new ones at a cost of Rs 2,705.35 crore. Among the important projects inaugurated that day were a cancer institute at the Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences and a trauma centre at Loknayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital.
The government took another step towards strengthening the health infrastructure by launching or laying the foundation for 772 new projects this year.
.