In Bihar Assembly, BJP MLA Maithili Thakur questioned her own government over the dilapidated condition of government hospitals and shortage of doctors. He rejected the Health Minister’s reply and demanded immediate action.
Patna: During the Bihar Assembly budget session, BJP MLA from Ali Nagar Maithili Thakur again drew attention to the poor condition of government health facilities in her area and the entire state. He raised sharp questions on the Health Minister’s reply on Monday. The interaction highlighted concerns such as long-neglected facilities, budget constraints and lack of basic services in government hospitals.
Thakur — who entered politics after winning the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections and is a first-time MLA — came into the national spotlight for her direct questions in assembly debates. At the center of their questions was the dilapidated building of a government hospital in their area, with plaster falling from the ceilings, deep cracks in the walls and rainwater seeping into the wards — all while patients, including pregnant women and children, were being treated there.
Despite this clear account of unsafe conditions, Thakur expressed dissatisfaction with Health Minister Mangal Pandey’s written reply, which said the building did not require immediate reconstruction and only required repairs. He rejected that answer as far from reality and argued that this structure is not safe at all and is a direct threat to the lives of patients.
“I am not satisfied with the reply,” Thakur said in the House. He stressed that he had personally visited the hospital and seen the actual condition of the building, which was in complete contradiction to the minister’s written statement. He also expressed concern over the shortage of MBBS doctors — pointing out that his hospital previously had two doctors, but now there is not even one — and questioned why services were being run in such unsafe places despite the health budget increasing every year.
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The atmosphere of the assembly immediately became tense due to his questions. Opposition MLAs praised his tough stance, while some members of the ruling party looked uneasy. After this heated debate, the Speaker finally had to intervene and proceeded with the session.
Thakur’s detailed criticism — in which he pitted the government’s response against ground realities — has gone viral on social media. Many are praising his courage to hold his own government accountable and raise an issue that affects ordinary citizens at the grassroots level. Users emphasized that unsafe hospital buildings and staff shortages are not limited to just one facility, but are indicative of larger healthcare challenges in Bihar and across India.
The Health Minister defended his stance by saying that the state government is serious about improving the infrastructure. He said new buildings have been approved for many hospitals, construction is underway in some areas, and hospitals with dangerously dilapidated buildings have been identified for phased repair or renovation. However, Thakur responded that in his area, no concrete progress has been seen despite repeated assurances and “mere talk of plans and approvals” without implementation is not enough.
His intervention also touched public sentiments about the broader state of government hospitals, bringing attention to issues such as staff shortages, risky infrastructure and delays in the implementation of projects, which directly impact patient safety and access to care. Political commentators believe that raising such grassroots services issues during a crucial budget session not only puts pressure on the government, but also signals a growing demand for accountability and real change in public services, especially healthcare.
Overall, this phenomenon reflects changing expectations from elected representatives, who now want concrete solutions to systemic problems, not just political answers — reinforcing the idea that policy implementation at the grassroots level should be in line with written promises and budget increases.