Bihar Allows MBBS Doctors to Perform Ultrasounds After 6-Month Training

In a significant move aimed at expanding diagnostic capabilities across the state, the Bihar Health Department has officially reversed previous restrictions, allowing MBBS doctors to perform ultrasound procedures after completing a specialized six-month training program.  

The 300-Hour Training Protocol

As per the new directive issued by the health department, MBBS doctors will be required to undergo a rigorous 300-hour training curriculum. This program will be conducted across various medical colleges in Bihar under the direct supervision of qualified radiologists and gynaecologists. The training strictly adheres to the guidelines established under the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act 1994, along with the subsequent 2014 and 2020 Rules.  

The Bihar cabinet’s approval of this proposal specifically permits these trained doctors to perform “Level 1 Abdomino-Pelvic” ultrasounds. Upon successful completion of the course and passing the Competency-Based Assessment (CBA), the doctors will be issued official certificates authorizing them to practice. Notably, the department has clarified that doctors who previously failed the CBA test three times are also eligible to re-enroll in this six-month program.  

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Addressing the Radiologist Shortage

Until now, under the 2018 regulations, MBBS doctors in the state were strictly prohibited from conducting ultrasound scans. This regulatory change is widely seen as a direct response to the chronic shortage of specialized radiologists, particularly in rural and semi-urban healthcare centers.  

To kickstart the initiative, the government has already allocated training seats at major institutions. Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS) in Patna has been allotted 36 seats, while Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital (SKMCH) in Muzaffarpur will host four seats. A special state-level committee, headed by the Director General and including the Vice Chancellor of the Bihar University of Health Sciences, has been constituted to oversee the strict implementation of this program and ensure compliance with PCPNDT anti-sex selection mandates.