Patna, July 11 : Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will review the progress of National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) in Bihar today.

Dr. Ramadoss is visiting Bihar in connection with a function to celebrate World Population Day.

Bihar is one of the 18 high focus States to be covered under NRHM. Before NRHM, Bihar was part of Empowered Action Group (EAG) States.

Under NRHM, a manifold increase in the allocation for the health sector in Bihar has taken place.

The State has shown significant improvement in outpatient load in government facilities, sterilization cases, immunization and institutional delivery.

The State has recruited 2300 doctors, 4504 ANMs (Auxiliary Nurse Midwives) and 2900 staff nurses under NRHM.

Despite this progress, the State confronts issues of huge infrastructure and human resource gap and poor resource utilization and extremely poor health indicators.

The Total Fertility Rate of the State is 4.3. The Infant Mortality Rate is 60 and Maternal Mortality Ratio is 371 (SRS 2001 - 03), which are higher than the National average. The Sex Ratio in the State is 919 (as compared to 933 for the country).

AIIMS Patna is one of the sixth AIIMS like institutions being set up under Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY).

The State Government has made available the land for the institution and formalities for the construction have started.

Dr. Ramadoss will also visit Bodh Gaya on invitation of the Chief Minister. (ANI)