The dilapidated condition of government hospitals took centre stage in the Bihar Legislative Assembly during the budget session on Monday when BJP MLA Maithili Thakur, the celebrated folk singer from Mithilanchal, questioned Health Minister Mangal Pandey over the crumbling state of the government hospital in her constituency. Unsatisfied with the minister’s response, she doubled down with a sharp question that caught the assembly’s attention.
A video of the exchange quickly went viral on social media, showing a new MLA holding a minister from her own party accountable. Thakur, who entered politics after being inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, won her maiden election this past November from Alinagar.
Maithali Thakur Questions Health Minister Over State Of Hospital
During Question Hour on Monday, BJP MLA Maithili Thakur raised an alarm over the dilapidated state of the hospital building in her constituency, warning that a major accident is imminent. Describing the condition of the hospital building, she said plaster keeps falling from the ceilings, walls bear deep structural cracks, and wards are flooded by leaks during the monsoon.
Despite these hazardous conditions, Thakur highlighted that patients, including pregnant women and newborns, are treated within the building, posing a direct threat to human life.
“I am not completely satisfied with the answer… Because it is written that the building is not in a bad condition. It just needs to be repaired,” she said.
“But I want the minister to explain once again. Because I myself have seen that the building is in a bad condition. There is a health system running in a small room. There is no MBBS doctor. In the past, there were two MBBS doctors there. But not now,” she added.
Thakur further questioned why the government hospitals remain in such a state when the government is increasing the health budget every year. She argued that while the shortage of doctors and medicine is a persistent problem, the immediate threat is dilapidated buildings that could collapse at any time.
“This hospital serves five to seven panchayats and is believed to benefit approximately 40,000 to 50,000 people. Located at the centre of my assembly, it provides easy access for residents of both Ghanshyampur and Alinagar. I request the minister to give special attention to the development and improvement of this facility,” she added.v
