Uproar in Bihar After Health Minister Wears 'Shoe Cover' on Head at Begusarai Hospital

Bihar’s Health Minister Mangal Pandey has found himself at the centre of a social media firestorm following an incident at the Sadar Hospital in Begusarai. During an inspection visit at the facility, health workers had placed a ‘shoe cover’ on the minister’s head instead of a proper surgical cap, raising serious questions about the hospital’s protocols and the training of its staff.

The incident occurred on Saturday as Pandey was preparing to tour the ICU ward. Photographs of the moment quickly circulated online, showing the minister adorned with a ‘shoe cover’ meant for covering footwear at the hospital while other officials, including Sports Minister Surendra Mehta and District Magistrate Tushar Singla, were not seen wearing any safety kit at all. This glaring oversight ignited public outrage, with many mocking the situation and questioning the competency of health personnel in the state.

Critics, particularly from the opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), seized upon the moment to highlight what they claim is indicative of systemic failures in Bihar’s healthcare system. RJD spokesperson Mrityunjay Tiwari condemned the incident as an embarrassment for the state’s administration. The incident reflected the dire state of hospitals and if this is how the health minister was treated, one can only imagine the conditions faced by the general public, he stated.

In response to the backlash, Janata Dal (United) leaders defended both the minister and the health workers, labelling the incident a “human error.” JDU spokesperson Arvind Nishad criticised the RJD for politicising the situation, emphasising that Bihar’s healthcare had improved under the current government. While the RJD was in power, hospitals were overrun by stray animals, he said, adding that under Nitish Kumar’s rule, patients and ministers alike were visiting the hospitals.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also rallied behind Pandey. BJP spokesperson Neeraj Kumar explained that the materials used for shoe covers and surgical caps were similar, arguing that the health minister was focused on important work, including a new initiative for platelet treatments in Begusarai. Kumar pointed out that such initiatives will enhance dengue treatment, thereby benefitting the local population.