Bihar’s Health Minister Mangal Pandey visited the Nalanda Medical College and Hospital (NMCH) to take stock of the Covid-19 pandemic, after a gap of over three months. The state has faced widespread criticism after images and videos of the dire state of government hospitals were circulated on social media recently. Pandey met with doctors and patients in the ICU and discussed the problems they were facing. He also met hospital directors and ordered the immediate setting up of a helpdesk for patient assistance. He also issued instructions for dead bodies to be cremated within 2-3 hours with the help of the deceased’s family. He has further assured people that essential medicines would be provided at the hospital.
The minister’s visit was not well-received by other hospital staff. Ward attendants demanding protection cover demonstrated in front of Pandey’s car and had to be pacified by the minister himself. Nurses at the hospital also threatened to go on strike if safety issues were not addressed soon.
Mangal Pandey’s visit to the worst-affected hospital in Bihar has come after heavy criticism about how the current pandemic is being managed by the state government. Recent viral videos on social media have shown harrowed patients waiting for doctors and abandoned dead bodies at NMCH. Hospital attendants have also complained about doctors turning away patients. Meanwhile, 1,625 new cases of Covid-19 have been registered, taking the total up to 31,691 cases across the state. The state of affairs in Bihar has also invited scathing remarks from Leader of Opposition, Tejashwi Yadav, who has previously said that it is the state government which is in the ICU. He has also blamed the BJP and JDU for preparing for elections at the cost of neglecting the sick and dying people of Bihar.