Bihta (Bihar), Sep 25 (ANI): Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar on Friday laid the foundation stone for a hospital in here, about 40 kilometers from Patna, capital of Bihar.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was present on the occasion.

Meira Kumar and Nitish Kumar lighted a traditional oil lamp and laid the foundation stone for the Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) medical college-cum-hospital.

“Today it’s a day of joy for everyone that the foundation stone of a medical college-cum-hospital has been laid in Bihar and the work on it has already begun,” said Nitish Kumar, while addressing the gathering.

“I would like to thank Bihar’s Chief Minister Nitish Kumar who provided the land for this medical college. This will be the 3rd such medical college and it has come up in Bihar,” added Meira Kumar.

ESI plans to set up ten medical colleges and hospitals. Two of these colleges are functional in southern India and seven more are in the pipeline.

Medical colleges such as these will help India improve the ratio of doctors and patients.

India has an average of 6 doctors per one thousand patients while the world’s average is 15 doctors per one thousand patients. (ANI)