Patna: Health minister Mangal Pandey on Saturday flagged off two tuberculosis diagnostic vans from State Health Society Bihar to diagnose new cases around the state as early as possible.

Sources in the health department said the mobile vans will go to Patna, Gopalganj, Lakhisarai, Munger, Purnea, Rohtas, Supaul, Siwan, Vaishali and Buxar districts in the first phase.

State Health Society Bihar executive director Lokesh Kumar Singh and additional executive director Sanjay Kumar Singh were among the officials who were present at the flagging off ceremony at Sheikhpura.

"The mobile vans are equipped with cartridge-based nucleic acid amplification test machine which can examine tuberculosis cases within two hours. These will be helpful in identifying TB patients in areas that are otherwise not easily accessible. The mobile vans are also equipped with refrigerators where the personnel can safely store chemicals with which the cartridge-based nucleic acid amplification test has to be conducted. Besides, a printer has been provided in the vans for handing over test reports to the people immediately after the test," said Lokesh.

Health minister Pandey spoke on the government's strategies for tuberculosis elimination by 2025.