State health minister Banna Gupta on Thursday reiterated his commitment towards improving the condition of healthcare services in Jharkhand.

Interacting with The Telegraph on the Assembly premises, Gupta said: “I have directed my department officials to give proper reply to questions raised in the Assembly to ensure that the real problem comes to the fore and its proper solution can be found. Questions help the government acknowledge its flaws and look for solutions,” Gupta said.

On Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Gupta said he was serious about addressing complaints about the malpractices that private nursing homes and pharmacies within a 2km radius of RIMS engaged in.

“After the assessment of the pros and cons, a proper decision will be taken in this regard. I keep getting information about problems cropping up at RIMS because of the nearby medicine shops and private nursing homes,” Gupta said without elaborating on the problem.

On the crisis of doctors at state-run hospitals, Gupta said it would ease once Jharkhand Public Service Commission completed the process of appointment of 380 doctors.

“I have also planned to request retired doctors practising at other places to extend their services to government hospitals also,” the health minister said.

After the Assembly session, Gupta visited RIMS and held a meeting with third- and fourth-grade staff and asked them to co-operate with him.

“I am here to know the basic problem. Kindly share them with me. Feel free to contact me anytime you need, but extend proper service to the common people coming to RIMS. RIMS is the pride of the health department and kindly do not allow anyone to tarnish that,” Gupta said while sharing his contact number with everyone.

However, Ajsu legislator Sudesh Mahto, during a debate on budget in the House, suggested that the minister had a long way to go.

Mahto said there was one hospital for 52,915 patients, one bed for 2,722 people, one doctor for 5,764 people, one pharmacist for 14,210 people and one auxiliary nurse midwife for 18,356 patients in the state.