Chief minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday promised to create all necessary facilities in Bihar so that going outside the state for medical treatment becomes an option and not a compulsion.

Nitish made the promise while inaugurating 113 projects worth Rs 866 crore at Samvad Bhavan. All the projects were of infrastructure work for the health sector, including building construction of BSc Nursing College, an auxiliary nurse and midwife school-cum-hostel, a paramedical training institute and a sub-divisional hospital.

All the new buildings will be quake-resistant and will have fire-fighting instruments and fire-alarm facilities.

In December 2013, Nitish had launched what he called the second generation of health reforms. The first generation of health reforms was launched soon after he came to power in 2005. Among its aims was providing free medicines to the poor at government health facilities.

Nitish said the first generation of health reforms had translated into an increase in the number of patients at primary health centres.

'Our survey in 2006 had found that the average number of patients visiting each primary heath centre every month to be 49. That number has risen to 10,500,' said Nitish.

He, however, admitted slackness in the programme of free medicine distribution at government facilities in the past few years.

Health minister Mangal Pandey promised that all the medicines mentioned in the Essential Drugs List of the health department will be made available at all government hospitals by January 31 next year. 'Right now, 96 types of drugs are available in government medical college hospitals,' said Pandey.

He said his department has also chalked out a strategy to combat malnutrition among children. He added that he had directed all government facilities to ensure implementation of the Satrangi Chadar Scheme (in which patients' bed sheets have to be changed everyday) in all government hospitals from November. 'State Health Society, Bihar, will monitor its implementation,' said Pandey.

Pandey said every small thing, from proper working electric poles and fans in every ward of hospitals to cleanliness, will be taken care of at government hospitals.

Deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi talked about the government's vow to eradicate kala-azar from the state by May 2018. He said doctors working on contract basis and willing to serve health institutions in inaccessible areas will get Rs 25,000 in addition to their salaries.

Principal health secretary R.K. Mahajan earlier said the Bihar Medical Services and Infrastructure Corporation Limited, which looks after the purchase of medicines and instrument work for the government hospitals, had also been handed over the maintenance work of government hospital buildings. Earlier, the building construction department used to look after the job.