BETTIAH, Jan. 17 -- Announcing reforms in Bihar's public health system, chief minister Nitish Kumar on Friday announced that the state government is preparing a stringent policy to bar private practice by government doctors, as part of a slew of measures aimed at strengthening the health sector. Addressing a public meeting on the opening day of his Samriddhi Yatra at the sprawling Ramana Ground in Bettiah, headquarters of West Champaran, Kumar said that the health scenario in the state had improved manifold compared to the pre-2005 period marked by the "Lalu-Rabri" regime and added that the government was now taking fresh measures to elevate the sector to the "next level". "With a view to strengthening healthcare services, Vishisht Chikitsa Kendra (advanced medical centres) will be set up in district and block hospitals. Setting up of private hospitals would be encouraged. Besides, a policy will be introduced to impose a ban on private practice by government doctors," he said, emphasising that these health professionals posted in government hospitals must devote their time to serving patients. Embarking on his 16th public outreach programme since 2005, CM Kumar -- accompanied by his two deputy chief ministers Vijay Sinha and Samarath Choudhary, besides his cabinet colleagues Vijay Choudhary and Narayan Prasad -- was in West Champaran on the opening day of his "Samriddhi Yatra" on Friday. The yatra will conclude on January 24, with no official engagements scheduled for January 18. At Bettiah's Ramana ground, the chief minister also laid the foundation stones of 125 schemes worth Rs.125 core and inaugurated 36 crore of worth Rs.29 crore on the opening day for West Champaran. During his nearly 35-minute speech, after a visit to the Kumarbagh industrial area - which also houses a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) cleared by the Centre for 2024-25 - Kumar praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for extending support to Bihar. Kumar said after the first two editions of the state's "Saat Nischay" (Seven Resolves), the government was encouraged to constitute Saat Nischay-3. "These public-oriented development measures under Saat Nischay-3 would push Bihar to the next level and catapult it among the top states in the country," he said, enlisting the seven resolves....