As Bihar prepares for the upcoming assembly elections, the state government has taken a significant and much-needed step toward strengthening its healthcare infrastructure. On Friday, Health Minister Mangal Pandey announced that 41,000 appointments will be made in the health department before the Model Code of Conduct comes into effect. The announcement, made during the appointment ceremony of 228 specialist doctors in Patna, comes as a welcome move for both healthcare professionals and the people of the state, who have long hoped for better medical services and accessibility.
The minister shared that the recruitment process for 8,500 positions is already in its final stages. These appointments are not just numbers—they represent a renewed commitment to public welfare and access to quality healthcare, especially in underserved rural areas. In a state where people often struggle to get timely and specialized medical care, these new appointments could make a real difference. According to Pandey, advertisements for 41,000 posts have already been issued, covering a wide range of roles across the health department.
The state is also making swift progress under the National Health Mission, with plans to recruit 722 general physicians within the next 15 days. The government is placing special emphasis on strengthening pathology services, which are essential for timely and accurate diagnosis—a critical factor in effective treatment and healthcare delivery.
Among the 228 newly appointed specialists are 30 orthopaedic surgeons, 27 general surgeons, 17 ophthalmologists, 25 MD physicians, 38 paediatricians, 55 gynaecologists, 13 ENT surgeons, 12 psychiatrists, 3 dermatologists, and 8 anaesthetists. These appointments will help reduce the burden on existing medical staff and provide patients with more timely and focused care, a development that is both urgently needed and deeply appreciated by citizens.
Minister Pandey also spoke of the government’s efforts to eliminate vacancies in the health sector entirely. He highlighted that Bihar is already leading in medicine supply to government hospitals and is on the verge of surpassing the national average in ambulance availability—something he hopes to achieve within a month.
In terms of healthcare access, the state has made significant strides through the Ayushman Bharat scheme. Bihar now ranks third nationally in generating Ayushman Bharat health cards. Out of a target population across 1.79 crore families, the state has already created 3.96 crore health cards, with 1.62 crore families having received them—covering 91% of the target. The government now aims to reach the four crore mark.
Senior officials, including Development Commissioner and Additional Chief Secretary (Health) Pratyaya Amrit, were present at the event, underscoring the seriousness of the initiative. These developments may offer not just hope, but a real shift in the quality of life for millions of Biharis, particularly in areas where access to even basic health services has remained a challenge for far too long. As the elections near, such initiatives remind us that governance, at its best, is about putting people first.