There is hereby established in the state department of health a "section of hospital and medical facility survey and construction" which shall be administered by a full time salaried head under the supervision and direction of the secretary. The state department of health, through such section, shall constitute the sole agency of the state for the purpose of:

(1) Making an inventory of existing hospitals and medical facilities, surveying the need for construction of hospitals and medical facilities, and developing a program of hospital and medical facility construction; and

(2) Developing and administering a state plan for the construction of public and other nonprofit hospitals and medical facilities as provided in this chapter.