Jharkhand is planning to expand its medical colleges in Dumka and Palamu into 1,000-bed teaching hospitals, while doubling MBBS intake in Dumka and adding postgraduate medical seats under a proposed healthcare infrastructure upgrade reviewed by the state health department.
The plans were discussed at a meeting chaired by additional chief secretary (health) Ajoy Kumar Singh on Friday. The review covered infrastructure expansion at medical colleges across the state, including institutions in Dumka, Palamu, Hazaribag, Deoghar, Ranchi, Lohardaga, Chaibasa and Jamshedpur.
Under the proposal, Phulo Jhano Medical College and Hospital in Dumka would be upgraded by integrating its existing 500-bed facility with the district sadar hospital. The combined institution is proposed to have 1,000 beds. The department is also considering increasing the college’s MBBS intake from 100 to 200 seats and introducing 150 postgraduate seats.
The Dumka expansion is estimated to cost around Rs 375 crore, according to the health department statement cited in the report. The proposal would increase the institution’s capacity to provide both medical education and hospital services, although the source report does not specify a construction timetable or implementation schedule.
A similar plan has been prepared for Medinirai Medical College and Hospital in Palamu. The institution, spread across about 75 acres, is proposed to be developed as a 1,000-bed teaching hospital with expanded undergraduate and postgraduate medical education facilities. Officials also discussed creating 150 postgraduate seats at the Palamu institution. Land for both projects has already been made available, according to the department.
The review also examined the expansion requirements of Sheikh Bhikhari Medical College and Hospital in Hazaribag. Officials discussed developing hospital infrastructure over 75 to 100 acres, while facilities and future requirements at medical colleges in Deoghar, Ranchi, Lohardaga and Chaibasa were also assessed.
The proposed expansion would place additional pressure on the state to coordinate hospital construction, teaching facilities, staffing and student accommodation across multiple campuses. The information released so far confirms the proposed bed and seat increases but does not set out the number of new faculty members, clinical staff or support workers required for the enlarged institutions.
Patient movement within large medical college campuses was another focus of the meeting. Singh directed officials to introduce electric buses at all medical colleges to help patients and attendants travel between departments. The department said the service would particularly assist elderly people and those with mobility challenges.
Officials were also asked to explore hostels for postgraduate students and guest houses through the public-private partnership mode. The next steps will depend on the preparation and approval of detailed proposals for the Dumka and Palamu expansions, along with decisions on funding, construction and operational requirements.
