Patna: Chief minister Nitish Kumar on Monday said the Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS) requires nothing less than 2,500 beds to meet the increasing patient load on the hospital.
He was speaking at the institute's 4th convocation ceremony, after hospital director N.R. Biswas made a request for increasing bed capacity at the hospital from 500 to 1,000 beds. "IGIMS should be competing with the All India Institute of Medical Sciences while the other medical colleges have to be made at par with IGIMS," Nitish said. "We're going to develop Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) and Nalanda Medical College and Hospital (NMCH) as centres of excellence." He said they were willing to increase the number of MBBS seats at IGIMS from 100 to 250.
Nitish also inaugurated a renovated medical intensive care unit with 15-bed capacity.
Deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi, health minister Mangal Pandey were present at the programme.
Institute director Biswas spoke of achievements in the last four years, including starting of a renal and corneal transplant facility and spoke about future plans of IGIMS, like starting of liver transplant facility among others.
CM removes cap
Speaking at the programme, Nitish, in a lighter vein remarked that the convocation gown and caps date back to the British era and the institute administration must change the dress code for convocation in sync with Indian culture and tradition. "Should I remove the cap," Nitish asked the audience. Most people replied saying that he should after which Nitish removed the traditional convocation cap saying he always feared the cap would fall off. His remark drew laughter .
Gold medals
The chief minister later awarded gold medals to toppers in various disciplines.
The Sri P.P. Sinha-Dr Uday Kumar Gold Medal for topping in biochemistry 1st professional exam went to Suman, and the Shri Leo Xess-Dr Anima Raghwendra Gold Medal for topping in pharmacology went to Shivani.
Dr. Birkeshwar Prasad Singh Gold Medal & Certificate topper of ophthalmology went to Riya Anand. Super-speciality degrees were also awarded to students on this occasion. Amitesh Kumar and Madhur Choudhary received Doctorate of Medicine (DM) gastroenterology, while Master of chirurgical (M.Ch) urology degree went to Anshul Garg and Pankaj Kumar Gupta. Manoj Kumar got Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree in biochemistry.
