Patna Medical College (1874), Patna - started by the British Raj

Navrang India April 22, 2018
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The Patna medical College and Hospital, earlier known as the Patna School of Medicine  was opened on 23 June 1874. Located on the banks of river Ganges it is billed as the one of the oldest training centers of surgeons and physicians in the Indian subcontinent: it started functioning  in this part with a view to   catering  to the medical needs of people including the British living in Bihar and Eastern UP.  In August 1874  the Medical College was named after Sir Richard temple L.L. Governor  of Bengal. Though a government institution, it ran smoothly owing to public subscription by social workers  and philanthropists. The college specifically  offered L.M.P level courses initially. The M.B.B.S. degree courses were introduced subsequently in the early part of 20th century. 

At a time when the incidence of Malaria, Plague, Typhoid, etc was  on the increase coupled  with maternal  high mortality rate and stomach ailments across India,  decision was made by the medical Board to upgrade the standard of teaching at Temple School of Medicine to train the doctors in advanced medicine and surgery.  Over a period of time, the Medical College got a name  and on  25 July 1925   special department  with advanced  medical facilities was opened by  the Gov. of Bihar  Sir Henry Wheeler with just 30  students and H.R. Dutton IMS became the first Principal.  The foundation stone of the College was laid by Prince of Wales in 1925.

It is one of the  very few  medical colleges in India where the Radio Therapy unit was established way back in the past. Departments like plastic surgery, pediatrics, gen surgery, etc., got a good name in our country. Now it has  150 undergraduate students and the same number  of PG students and a staff of 200 well-trained  teachers. There eight specialty departments here. 

It is one of the busiest hospitals in the country with  roughly 1754 beds,  serving the poor and indigent population. Its services are on par with AIIMS.  There is an effective emergency ward  called IGCE (Indira Gandhi Central Emergency) and has an additional 220 beds. The  average number of outpatients to this hospital is the highest in India.  
A postal commemorative stamp was issued in February, 2000 (75th anniversary) in recognition of its excellent  service toward the cause of medical services and general health.

 Tit-bits:

Patna medical collge and Hospital, Patna.medicaldialogues.in

 Way back in November 2018 the Bihar  state Cabinet (CM> Nitish Kumar) gave an administrative nod to convert the PMCH into the largest one in the world with 5462 and the proposed cost will be roughly  INR. 5540 crores, a whooping sum. Incidentally, the world's largest hospital with 3500 beds is in Belgrade. The proposal covers establishment of 36 super specialty departments with well trained experts. There is yet another proposal to increase the  medical seats MBBS to 250.  The hospital will  be developed by Bihar Medical Services  and Infra structure corp. Ltd on a turn-key basis.