Lalu Yadav's son Tej Pratap Yadav taking oath as minister
Tej Pratap Yadav, the 28-year-old political debutant known more as Lalu Yadav's oldest son till now, has taken charge of one of Bihar's most critical department, health.
As he took charge on Monday, the new health minister's first order was to ask doctors to man emergency wards 24x7.
"I am trying to understand the problems, whether it is about medical colleges or hospitals across the state...or otherwise. I will work to ensure all goals are fulfilled. It is my endeavour to take the health department to greater heights," said Yadav junior.
The Bihar government says each rural hospital - there are over 500 - has or should have six doctors in charge. But the state has just a third of the doctors it needs for government hospitals.
Medicines and other facilities are also in short supply. Doctors say at least four crucial drugs used in post-surgical care, and pain killers, have not been delivered for months by the health department.
There is a shortage of medicines and basic facilities in rural hospitals in Bihar
"We manage, somehow. It is very difficult. Do you know we don't even have drinking water in the hospital?" said Om Prakash, a doctor at a primary health care centre in Nawada.
Among all states, Bihar also ranks at the bottom for the health of newborns and young children. The rate of deaths for mothers and children during delivery is higher than the national average.
In 2005, just three of 10 women in Bihar went to hospitals for pre-delivery check-ups. The reason - most government health facilities were defunct or crumbling. In 2014, after a decade of Nitish Kumar's rule, this number went up to eight.
Mr Yadav has many challenges ahead, but 25-year-old Patna resident Pinki Kumari, who will soon give birth to her first child, should give him some hope. She is among the few who has been regular with visits to the doctor during her pregnancy.
"The doctors at this hospital have been attentive. I have been given calcium tablets and those are helping," says Pinki, who is at the Patna Medical College and Hospital for her delivery.
Pinki, however, is still an exception to the rule.