| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Institution Name | Katihar Medical College |
| Country | India |
| State | Bihar |
| City | Katihar |
| Field | Medical Education |
| Institution Type | Private Medical College |
| Affiliated University | Aryabhatta Knowledge University, Patna |
| Regulatory Body | National Medical Commission (NMC), India |
| Primary Degree Offered | MBBS |
Katihar Medical College is a private medical institution located in Katihar, a district headquarter town in the northeastern part of Bihar, India. The college offers undergraduate medical education leading to the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degree. It is affiliated with Aryabhatta Knowledge University, Patna, which serves as the affiliating university for several medical and technical institutions across Bihar. The college operates an associated teaching hospital that provides clinical training to its students and healthcare services to the surrounding population.
Katihar district sits in the Seemanchal region of Bihar, bordering West Bengal and close to the state of Jharkhand. The region has historically faced challenges in access to quality healthcare infrastructure, and the presence of a medical college with an attached hospital contributes to addressing some of those gaps in the local health ecosystem.
The primary academic programme offered at Katihar Medical College is the MBBS degree, a five-and-a-half-year undergraduate course that includes a compulsory rotating internship of one year. The curriculum follows the framework prescribed by the National Medical Commission, the apex regulatory body for medical education in India, which replaced the erstwhile Medical Council of India.
The academic structure is divided into three phases: the pre-clinical phase covering subjects such as Anatomy, Physiology, and Biochemistry; the para-clinical phase covering Pathology, Microbiology, Pharmacology, and Forensic Medicine; and the clinical phase covering Medicine, Surgery, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Paediatrics, and allied specialities. Teaching is conducted through lectures, practical sessions, dissection, and clinical postings in the attached hospital.
Post-graduate medical programmes in select disciplines may also be offered, subject to regulatory approvals and institutional capacity. Students and faculty engage with the broader academic community through seminars, conferences, and continuing medical education activities.
The college maintains an attached teaching hospital that functions as the primary site for clinical training. The hospital serves patients from Katihar and the wider Seemanchal region, including parts of neighbouring districts and border areas of West Bengal. Departments across medicine, surgery, obstetrics, paediatrics, orthopaedics, ophthalmology, and other specialities provide students with exposure to a diverse patient population and a range of clinical conditions.
Clinical postings form an integral part of the MBBS curriculum, with students rotating through various departments under the supervision of faculty and senior residents. The hospital's outpatient and inpatient services, emergency care, and diagnostic facilities collectively support the practical training component of the degree programme.
The campus houses academic blocks, a library, laboratories, and hostel accommodation for students. The library maintains a collection of medical textbooks, journals, and digital resources to support academic work. Separate hostel facilities are generally provided for male and female students. The campus also includes a canteen, sports facilities, and common areas for student activities.
Laboratory infrastructure supports practical work in pre-clinical and para-clinical subjects, including dissection halls, biochemistry and microbiology laboratories, and pathology specimen collections.
Admission to the MBBS programme at Katihar Medical College is governed by the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-UG), which is the mandatory qualifying examination for all medical undergraduate admissions in India. Seats are filled through the centralised counselling process conducted by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) for All India Quota seats, and by the Bihar Combined Entrance Competitive Examination Board or the designated state authority for state quota seats. Eligibility criteria follow the guidelines set by the National Medical Commission.
Students at Katihar Medical College participate in academic and extracurricular activities throughout their course of study. Cultural events, sports competitions, and medical awareness programmes are organised periodically. Student bodies and associations facilitate peer interaction and professional development. The college's location in Katihar provides students with exposure to a semi-urban environment and the public health challenges characteristic of the Seemanchal region.