As Jharkhand marks its 25th Statehood Day this November, the state showcases an extraordinary transformation in healthcare and medical education that has revolutionized patient care across the region.
From Humble Beginnings to Medical Excellence
When Jharkhand was carved out as a separate state on November 15, 2000, the healthcare infrastructure was in its infancy. The entire state could boast only three government medical colleges: Rims in Ranchi (then RMCH), PMCH in Dhanbad (now SNMMCH), and MGM Medical College in Jamshedpur, offering a meager 350 MBBS seats collectively.
The turning point came after 2010 when the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (Rims) began its rapid modernization journey. The institute established a dedicated cardiology department, followed by the inauguration of a separate cardiac building in 2014. This expansion enabled advanced cardiac interventions including angioplasty and angiography procedures that previously required patients to travel outside the state.
Explosion of Medical Education and Super-Speciality Care
Medical education has witnessed the most dramatic structural expansion over the past two decades. From just three medical colleges in 2000, Jharkhand now proudly hosts nine medical colleges, including seven managed by the state government.
These institutions include AIIMS Deoghar, Dumka Medical College (Dighi), Hazaribag Medical College, MGM Medical College Jamshedpur, Medinirai Medical College Palamu, SNMMCH Dhanbad, and Rims Ranchi, collectively offering 1,155 MBBS seats - representing more than a threefold increase. Additionally, 363 BDS seats have significantly strengthened the state's dental education framework.
Additional Chief Secretary (Health) Ajoy Kumar Singh told TOI: "The advancement in cancer treatment, with several hospitals now offering round-the-clock oncology services including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and advanced cancer surgeries, significantly reduces the need for patients to travel outside the state."
Transformation of Healthcare Infrastructure
Treatments once considered impossible within Jharkhand are now routinely performed across the state's healthcare facilities. Open heart surgeries, valve replacements, advanced neurosurgeries, GI and liver surgeries, paediatric surgeries, NICU and ICU care, along with high-end diagnostic procedures like endoscopy, colonoscopy, and ERCP have become standard offerings.
The bed capacity tells a compelling story of growth. In 2000, Rims and Ranchi Sadar Hospital together had fewer than 400 beds. Today, they collectively offer over 3,000 beds equipped with modern medical infrastructure.
Ranchi Sadar Hospital has transformed from a modest district facility into a model health center with 750+ beds, dedicated ICUs and NICUs, over 15 super-speciality services, DNB training facilities, PPP-model specialist services, and advanced radiology units including MRI, CT scan, and digital ultrasound.
Rims has emerged as a premier medical institution boasting 2,200+ beds, 350+ doctors, over 40 departments, a burn unit, trauma centre, cancer unit, paediatric ICU, nephrology and urology blocks, dialysis unit, telemedicine facilities, modular OTs, and a cath lab. The availability of CT scans, MRIs, and digital medical records has dramatically improved diagnostic accuracy.
The healthcare revolution extends beyond Ranchi. District hospitals in Ramgarh, Hazaribag, Koderma, and Khunti are being upgraded following the Ranchi model. AIIMS Deoghar has become fully operational, while new medical colleges proposed in Jamtara, Bokaro, and Garhwa are set to further strengthen regional healthcare access.
Looking ahead, the state is developing the Shibu Soren Institute of Medical Science (SSIMS or Rims-2) in Kanke. Designed along the lines of Amrita Hospital in Faridabad, this proposed hospital will feature 700+ beds, 20 operation theaters, 10 super-speciality units, modern ICUs, high-end diagnostics, and even robotic surgery facilities. Construction is expected to begin in 2026, with full commissioning targeted for 2030.
Several hospitals have also initiated preparatory work for kidney transplant programmes, marking the next frontier in Jharkhand's healthcare evolution that ensures comprehensive medical care remains accessible within the state boundaries.
