Patna,(BiharTimes): Bihar government will start doctorate of medicine (DM) course in Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS) and Indira Gandhi Institute of Cardiology(IGIC) from the coming academic year.

This was announced by health minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey at the joint conference of Bihar chapter of Cardiology Society of India (CSI) and Eastern India Interventional Cardiology Conclave here on Saturday.

The minister also said he would seriously consider introducing MCh (superspeciality course in surgery) courses of cardiology. He said he would see to it that the DMs in cardiology practising within the state didnot go outside due to lack of cath labs where angioplasty operations are performed. Angioplasty, incidentally, is much preferred over bypass surgeries.

The minister said that the cath lab at IGIC, which is not fully functional, would be made functional soon. Besides, IGIMS would soon overcome the hitches to utilize the money that has been allocated to it to start a cath lab.

He reiterated that Intensive Care Unit (ICU) would be opened in all the districts of the state.

The state has four cath labs in private institutions, apart from the one at IGIC, which is not fully functional.

CSI’s national president P K Deb and health secretary, Vyasji Mishra also spoke on the occasion. The latter criticized the Medical Council of India (MCI) for not recognizing the proposed medical colleges at Pawapuri and Bettiah. He said when it come to government institutions MCI takes a microscopic view, but when it comes to private colleges, MCI looks telescopically.

Earlier, Dr U C Samal was installed as the new president of Bihar chapter of CSI. He took over from noted cardiologist Dr S S Chatterjee.