Bihar Health Minister Announces Major Upgrades for LNJP Hospital and TB Patient Support
In a significant development for healthcare infrastructure in Bihar, State Health Minister Mangal Pandey addressed the legislative council on Tuesday, outlining key initiatives to enhance medical services across the state. The announcements came during a session where he responded to queries from various MLCs, focusing on critical gaps in emergency care and public health programs.
New Blood Bank and Hospital Expansion at LNJP
Responding to a short-notice question by RJD MLC Kartik Kumar, Minister Pandey confirmed that a blood bank facility will be established at Lok Nayak Jaiprakash Narayan Hospital (LNJP) in Rajbanshi Nagar within the next six months. He assured the House that the health department would complete all necessary processes to set up the blood bank within this stipulated timeframe.
Currently, blood for multi-trauma cases, road accident victims, and other emergencies at LNJP is sourced from Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS) or Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) as needed. This arrangement has often caused delays, particularly during the critical "golden hour" after accidents, as highlighted by MLC Kumar, who noted that despite LNJP being a specialized orthopaedic hospital and trauma centre, the absence of an on-site blood bank hampers emergency care.
In addition to the blood bank, Pandey revealed that 400 additional beds are being added to LNJP Hospital, with the expansion expected to be completed within the next three to four months. This upgrade will position LNJP as one of the largest hospitals in the country dedicated to orthopaedic treatment, significantly boosting its capacity to handle trauma and surgical cases.
TB Patient Support and Awareness Campaigns
During the proceedings, MLC Abdul Bari Siddiqui raised concerns about tuberculosis patients, pointing to a lack of awareness in rural areas and gaps in accessing benefits under government schemes. In response, Minister Pandey provided detailed statistics and outlined the state's efforts to support TB patients.
- There are 2,14,858 registered TB patients in Bihar for 2025, all of whom receive free tests, medicines, and counselling.
- Under the Nikshay Poshan Yojana, 79,197 patients have received monetary assistance, with the monthly support amount recently increased from Rs 500 to Rs 1,000.
- "Nikshay Mitras," including well-off individuals, cooperative societies, and public representatives, are providing food baskets for at least six months during treatment, benefiting 20,761 TB patients so far.
Pandey emphasized that the department actively monitors the H1 register—a logbook maintained by medicine stores to track TB medicine sales—to ensure patients are contacted and supported appropriately. He added that ongoing awareness campaigns are encouraging more people to come forward for treatment, addressing the rural awareness gap mentioned by Siddiqui.
Crackdown on Unqualified Practitioners
MLC Dr. Rajvardhan Azad brought up the issue of unqualified "jhooola chaap" doctors, citing a tragic case in Aurangabad where a pregnant woman died during delivery at an emergency facility on GT Road under Madanpur police station, with a rural practitioner present. He urged for stricter rules to curb such practices.
Minister Pandey responded firmly, stating that such practitioners have no right to perform operations or prescribe medicines. He informed the House that Bihar has trained 33,000 Chikitsa Paramarshi (health advisors) and that the department takes strict action in cases of negligence or when unqualified individuals are found providing treatment. This measure aims to safeguard patients from malpractice and ensure that only qualified professionals handle critical medical procedures.
Overall, these announcements reflect a comprehensive approach by the Bihar government to strengthen healthcare infrastructure, enhance emergency services, support vulnerable patients, and enforce medical standards, addressing both immediate needs and long-term public health goals.
