Patna: Chief minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday said he wanted to turn Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) into a world-class institution and appealed to the doctors to join his endeavour by preparing a blueprint for it.
"PMCH is from that era when just a few medical colleges were in the country. It attracted patients from Uttar Pradesh, the northeast and Nepal for treatment. But see its poor condition now. We want to develop it into a world-class medical institution," Nitish said.
The chief minister was speaking after releasing No Fear, the memoirs of noted pathologist Dr Dilip Sen, at a function here in the state capital.
"The eminent doctors present here have been connected with PMCH in one way or another and I request them to spare some time and come together to prepare a concept on how to develop it into an international-standard institution. We have worked much to develop medical facilities in Bihar, but a lot more remains to be done," Nitish said.
The chief minister assured that the state government will provide whatever funds necessary to develop PMCH into a healthcare hub on a par with the best hospitals in the country. Nitish pointed out that the campus of PMCH is at a very good location along the Ganga river and has ample space for development and expansion. He also said that the government developed a world-class Bihar Museum despite many hurdles, and wants to do the same for PMCH.
Dilip Sen is 92, and his family members including wife Aparna Sen, son Sandeep Sen, daughter Mahasweta Sen who has compiled the memoir, and daughter-in-law Anuradha Sen were present on the occasion.
Legislative Assembly speaker Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, Indian Medical Association (IMA) Bihar chapter president Sahajanand Prasad Singh, doctors S.N. Arya, A.A. Hai, Indraneel Sen, Narendra Prasad and several others were present at the event.
Praising Sen and his pathological laboratory for providing testing facilities of international standards, the results which were accepted by doctors without any hesitation anywhere, Nitish remembered how at times Sen would himself come at times to take samples for his (the chief minister's) blood tests.
Chaudhary extended his good wishes to Sen and wished him a long and healthy life. He added that people who are skilled in their profession and popular in the society were rare and that Sen not only reached the pinnacle in his field but also ensured the tougher task of maintaining the reputation.
