The government is identifying land for five more medical colleges it plans to set up across the state, pending cabinet approval.

At present, Bihar has nine government medical colleges, including Patna Medical College and Hospital, Anugrah Narayan Medical College and Hospital, Darbhanga Medical College and Hospital and the still-in-making Government Medical College, Bettiah. The decision to set up the five new medical colleges follows a cabinet approval for five similar institutions in February.

"The department has started to identify around 20 acres for each of these five medical colleges," deputy secretary, health, Anil Kumar said. "These will be set up to cater to the population as Bihar does not have enough hospitals yet."

The health department is yet to send the proposal for these five new medical colleges to the cabinet for approval. Anil added: "The new medical colleges, including the ones decided recently, are in pursuance of chief minister Nitish Kumar's seven resolves."

Among Nitish's resolves for the state's growth and development is the promise of "higher professional and technical education in all districts and sub-divisions".

Across Bihar's nine functional medical colleges, there are 950 MBBS seats. Besides, there are 350 MBBS seats at four private medical colleges in Katihar, Kishanganj, Sasaram and Saharsa.

Sources said for the new medical colleges, the department is searching for land near Madhubani, Sitamarhi, Munger, Begusarai and Rohtas. The medical colleges sanctioned in February will come up at Chhapra, Samastipur, Purnea and Madhepura. The government will also take over the Centre-run ESI-Bihta under this plan.

"More medical colleges would mean relief for the students and patients, who would get specialised treatments at the hospitals attached with these medical colleges," said Indian Medical Association, Bihar, member Sunil Kumar Singh. "These will also help plug brain drain of meritorious students who are forced to leave the state for lack of medical seats at home."

Another IMA member who did not wish to be named said: "The Medical Council of India has time and again pointed out several deficiencies in the existing colleges. The government should first attend to bring the existing medical colleges up to the mark."

Government Medical College, Bettiah, principal Rajiv Ranjan Prasad said: "Construction of the medical college building is not yet complete but we have pre-fabricated laboratories ready for conducting practical classes. We also have 20 per cent faculty shortage."

But he appreciated the government's initiative to set up five more medical colleges, saying every institution had its share of problems at the start. "Classes of Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College (Bhagalpur) used to be operated from Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (Ranchi) in the early days," he said. "The government might take time in creating infrastructure for the new colleges but ultimately the decision will help the people."