State PCS - Bihar (BPSC)

• 16 Dec 2024

Super Speciality Eye Hospital in Patna

Why in News? 

Recently, the Bihar government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Sankara Eye Foundation India, Coimbatore to facilitate the construction and operation of a super-specialty eye hospital in Patna. 

 Key Points 

• Land Allocation Approval: 
  • The Bihar Cabinet approved the allocation of 1.60 acres of land in Kankarbagh, Patna on a conditional lease at a nominal cost of Rs 1 to Sankara Eye Foundation India. 
  • This land will be utilized for the construction of the super-specialty eye hospital. 
• Hospital Details and Benefits: 
  • Sankara Eye Foundation India, an internationally acclaimed eye treatment hospital, will construct and operate the hospital at its own expense. 
  • Advanced treatments such as corneaplasty, retinal detachment surgeries, and eye cancer treatments will be offered along with general eye care. 
• Free Treatment Provision: 
  • 75% of the patients will receive free treatment, while the remaining 25% will pay for services. 
  • Families earning less than Rs 2.5 lakh annually will qualify for free treatment. 
• Contrasting Health Infrastructure Report: 
  • CAG Audit Findings on Bihar Health Infrastructure: 
    • The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report on Public Health Infrastructure (2016–2022) presented during the winter session criticized the state’s performance. 
    • Out of the Rs 69,790.83 crore health budget allocated from FY 2016-17 to 2021-22, only Rs 48,047.79 crore (69%) was spent, leaving Rs 21,743.04 crore (31%) unutilized. 
  • Low Health Expenditure: 
    • Bihar’s healthcare spending as a percentage of Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) ranged between 1.33% and 1.73%, and against the State Budget, it ranged between 3.31% and 4.41%. 
  • Resource Shortages: 
    • The report highlighted shortages in drugs, medical equipment, and consumables, pointing to critical gaps in public health infrastructure.