Big Boost for Rural Bihar: 1,224 Medical Officers Join CHCs and PHCs Today

In a major boost to the state’s public healthcare system, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar personally handed over appointment letters to 1,224 newly recruited Medical Officers during a ceremony held at the Urja Auditorium in Patna on Saturday, February 7, 2026.

1. Who Was Appointed?

The 1,224 new recruits include a mix of:

• Specialist Medical Officers: To fill critical gaps in departments like Gynaecology, Paediatrics, and Anaesthesia at district hospitals.

• General Medical Officers (GDMOs): Primarily posted to Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and Community Health Centres (CHCs) to strengthen rural healthcare delivery.

• Symbolic Gesture: The CM handed over letters to 10 representative candidates on stage, before the rest were distributed.

2. Strict Stance on “Private Practice”

The most significant takeaway from the event was the government’s hardened stance on private practice.

• New Rules: Chief Minister Nitish Kumar announced that the government is framing strict new rules to curb private practice by government doctors.

• The Goal: The aim is to ensure doctors are actually present at their assigned government hospitals during duty hours, rather than managing private clinics.

• Crackdown on Touts: The CM also ordered intensified inspections to catch “touts” and middlemen who divert patients from government hospitals to private clinics and diagnostic centers for commissions.

3. The Bigger Picture (Saat Nischay 3.0)

This recruitment is part of the “Saat Nischay-3” (Seven Resolves 3.0) roadmap for 2025–2030.

• Future Hiring: The CM confirmed this is just the first phase; the government plans to recruit a total of 5,191 doctors soon to ensure every health sub-centre and district hospital is fully staffed.

• Infrastructure: The focus is on making medical services accessible at the grassroots level so that villagers do not need to rush to Patna for basic treatment.