Healthcare Sector
Bihar is the third most populous state in India, with a population density of 1,106 persons per sq. km. The major health & demographic indicators of the state, like the infant mortality rate (42), maternal mortality rate (219), total fertility rate (3.5), etc. are much higher than the all India levels and presents an enormous opportunity to the investors to play a major role in improving these indicators.
The public health facilities in Bihar are already overburdened and are in the process of being strengthened in terms of infrastructure and essential health requirements like manpower, equipment, drugs and consumables. Hence, these facilities are not adequate to cater to the health care requirements of the population, at present.
An overview of the healthcare related infrastructure requirement and gaps is presented in the table given below:
| Particulars | Required | In position (Functional) | Shortfall |
| Medical colleges and hospitals | 40 | 9 | 31 |
| District hospitals | 38 | 36 | 2 |
| Sub-divisional hospitals | 212 | 44 | 168 |
| Referral hospitals | 70 | 57 | 13 |
| Community health centres | 838 | 0 | 838 |
| Primary health centres | 3,314 | 533 | 2,781 |
| Additional primary health centres | 2,787 | 1,350 | 1,437 |
| Health sub centres | 20,997 | 9,729 | 11,268 |
Besides, there are very few private hospitals in the state; most of the organised private healthcare infrastructure is confined to the capital town, Patna. Patients seeking secondary & tertiary healthcare services have to go to Patna or move to other states for treatment.
Also, most of the healthcare needs of the state are being provided by the nursing homes, run mostly by individual private practitioners, which mostly cater to the general healthcare needs of individuals. Very few of these provide speciality services. Therefore, there is a great need and substantial opportunity for private sector interventions in healthcare industry of the state.
To reinforce the State Government's vision to improve accessibility to affordable, quality healthcare services and promote medical tourism in the state, the following components have been identified as priority sectors:
| Areas | Investment Opportunities |
|---|---|
| In-patient Health Care Facilities | Specialty hospitals, super-specialty hospitals, multi- specialty hospitals, ultra-modern trauma centres |
| Emergency Medical Services | Mobile medical units, blood banks |
| HRD/Skill Development Services | HRD/ skill development centres (hospital services, bio-medical equipment maintenance etc.) |
| Manufacturing Units | Medicines |
| Manufacturing Units-Equipment & Supplies | Medical equipment like patient monitors, anaesthesia machine, surgical microscope, electro-surgical equipment etc. Service equipment like blood collection tubes, gloves, catheter, urology disposable products, mouth piece for endoscopes, etc. |
| Hospital Waste Management Services | Bio-medical waste management units |
| Educational Institutes | Grade A Nursing Colleges |