The health department will use pre-fabricated structures to expedite construction work in the government medical college and hospitals.

The move is aimed at strengthening the infrastructure in the institutions. Sources said the department has taken this decision because it wants to increase the MBBS seats in the government medical colleges from 100-150 to 200-250.

The department has decided to use the technology only for temporary structures though.

Gagan Kumar, officer on special duty, health, told The Telegraph: “We would make temporary arrangements with the help of this technology. For example, operating theatres would be constructed in this system and would be used till a permanent one is ready.”

A pre-fabricated building consists of several factory-built components that are assembled on-site to complete the unit. Cement and some other materials are used to make the base of the prefabricated structure. These can be completed in a very short span and can also be shifted from one place to another.

“A lot of time goes into the construction work of the medical college and hospitals. The Medical Council of India has given ultimatum to almost all the government medical colleges regarding their infrastructure drawbacks. So, the department decided on using pre-fabricated buildings to expedite the construction work at the health hubs,” said an official in the department.

Sources said in December last year, a Punjab-based entrepreneur had constructed a 10-storey building in just 48 hours with the help of prefabricated building.

On the advantages of the pre-fabricated technology, Gagan said: “It saves a lot of time as well as money. It usually takes around six months to construct a modular operating theatre, as a lot of work goes in the construction, including wiring. But with the pre-fabricated technology, an operating theatre can be ready in only 15 days. This technology would fulfil the immediate need of the medical colleges on a temporarily basis.”

He added: “The Bihar Medical Services Infrastructure Corporation has been entrusted with the job of selecting firms that would carry out the construction work in the government medical colleges. The corporation will first assess the need of a medical college concerned and then would float tenders to select a firm for the project.”

Sources in the health department said this technology has already been put to use to set up additional primary health centres.

“At present, six additional primary health centres are being constructed on a pilot basis. There is a plan to develop 7,138 new health sub-centres and 1,483 new additional primary health centres in the state,” a source said.