Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said Deoghar could gain a new identity through medical tourism. He made the remarks while inaugurating the 750-bed Baba Baidyanath Medical Trust Hospital in Deoghar, Jharkhand, on September 23.
Deoghar already has a strong identity as a major pilgrimage destination. Sarma said the city could now develop another important role. He expects Deoghar to become a centre for advanced healthcare along with spiritual tourism.
The new hospital is expected to strengthen healthcare services in Deoghar and nearby areas. It could also reduce the need for patients to travel to distant cities for specialised treatment.
750-Bed Hospital Opens in Deoghar
The Baba Baidyanath Medical Trust Hospital has 750 beds. The Baba Baidyanath Medical Trust and P.D. Hinduja Hospital and Medical Research Centre jointly established the facility.
The hospital includes an intensive care unit, an emergency department and general wards. Sarma said the hospital focuses on the needs of ordinary patients.
He also said a medical college could come up at the hospital campus in the future. Such an institution could further expand medical education and healthcare services in the region.
Sarma expressed hope that the hospital would provide advanced treatment to economically weaker and middle-income families. He also highlighted the public service objective behind the hospital project.
Deoghar Could Become a Medical Tourism Hub
Sarma said Deoghar has the potential to attract patients from nearby regions. He referred to the city’s growing healthcare infrastructure during the inauguration.
According to the Chief Minister, people from Deoghar, Godda and other parts of Jharkhand previously travelled to Kolkata for quality medical treatment. He said the healthcare ecosystem in Jharkhand is now gradually expanding.
Sarma expects this development to change the flow of patients. More people could travel to Deoghar for treatment as healthcare facilities expand.
He said Deoghar could therefore develop as a medical tourism centre. The city could retain its importance as a spiritual destination while gaining a new identity in healthcare.
AIIMS Deoghar to Strengthen Healthcare Network
Sarma also highlighted the role of AIIMS Deoghar. He said the new hospital and AIIMS could complement each other.
The two institutions could create a wider healthcare network for the region. Their combined presence could benefit people from Jharkhand and neighbouring Bihar.
The development could also support the growth of specialised healthcare services. Patients may have more treatment options within the region.
Deoghar’s location and growing infrastructure could further support this expansion. Sarma pointed to several developments in and around Deoghar and Godda.
Airport, Rail and Road Connectivity Add Support
Sarma highlighted the infrastructure that has developed around Deoghar and Godda. The region now has an airport, railway connectivity and a ring road.
These facilities can play an important role in healthcare access. Patients often need reliable transport when they travel for medical treatment.
Better connectivity can also help hospitals attract patients from outside the immediate area. It can make travel easier for patients and their families.
Sarma linked the region’s infrastructure growth with the development of healthcare facilities. He said the new hospital adds another major institution to the growing infrastructure network.
Focus on Public Welfare
Sarma also spoke about the purpose of hospitals established by the Baba Baidyanath Medical Trust.
He said the Trust’s objective was public service rather than profit-making. He also praised the partnership between the Trust and the Hinduja Group.
According to Sarma, the collaboration brings together the Trust’s public welfare focus and the Hinduja Group’s medical expertise.
He expressed hope that the partnership would help the hospital develop into a major healthcare institution. The facility could serve patients from both Jharkhand and neighbouring states.
Sarma Highlights Hospital Design
The Assam Chief Minister also discussed the importance of hospital design. He drew on his experience as Assam’s Health Minister, a position he held for nearly 15 years from 2006.
Sarma said hospital architecture can influence how effectively a facility serves patients. He expressed satisfaction with the design of the new hospital.
He specifically mentioned the ICU, emergency department and general wards. He said the facilities had been planned with ordinary patients in mind.
Patient-friendly infrastructure can become an important part of healthcare delivery. It can also improve access and convenience for patients and their families.
Assam’s Medical Education Expansion
Sarma also used the occasion to discuss the growth of medical education in India and Assam.
He said India had 387 medical colleges in 2014. According to him, the number has now reached 846. He also said annual MBBS production has increased from 51,384 to 1,39,864.
Sarma further said India now has 22 AIIMS institutions. He presented these figures while discussing the expansion of healthcare and medical education in the country.
He also highlighted Assam’s progress. According to Sarma, Assam now has 16 medical colleges. The state previously had three.
The state currently produces around 2,200 doctors each year, compared with about 350 earlier. Sarma said Assam aims to establish 32 more medical colleges and increase MBBS seats to 4,000.
Assam Plans More Doctors at Health Centres
Sarma also referred to a provision in Assam’s latest state budget. The government plans to deploy two doctors at each of the state’s 5,000 sub-health centres.
He said the move would strengthen healthcare services at the grassroots level. It would also create employment opportunities for doctors.
The announcement formed part of Sarma’s broader discussion on healthcare infrastructure and medical education.
A New Healthcare Identity for Deoghar
The inauguration of the Baba Baidyanath Medical Trust Hospital marks another development in Deoghar’s healthcare infrastructure.
Sarma said the combination of AIIMS Deoghar, the new hospital and improved connectivity could strengthen the region’s healthcare ecosystem.
The planned medical college could add another dimension to this development. It could support medical education while increasing the availability of trained healthcare professionals.
For Deoghar, the growth of healthcare infrastructure could complement its established pilgrimage economy. Sarma believes the city can gradually become known for both spiritual and medical tourism.
The success of that vision will depend on the availability of quality treatment, trained professionals, affordability and continued investment in healthcare infrastructure. For now, the new 750-bed hospital has added a major healthcare facility to Deoghar and strengthened the city’s potential as a regional medical centre.