SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, April 9: Dhanbad Civil Surgeon (CS) Dr Shyam Kishore Kant has been asked to probe the substandard food being served to patients of Shahid Nirmal Mahto Medical College Hospital (SNMMCH).
Sadar MLA Raj Sinha today said, “Major irregularities in food and milk quality were found in the plates of patients. So, the civil surgeon has been asked to probe the food quality. On the basis of CS’s report, I would take up the issue with the chief minister and other concerned authorities.”
MLA Raj Sinha had gone to the medical college hospital for distribution of fruits among indoor patients and inspection of the lift being constructed in the hospital from the MLA fund. Coincidently, when he was distributing fruits, a food trolley was also going into the wards. He stopped the trolley and inspected it.
He alleged that substandard food is being served to the patients in the hospital by a private agency and strongly lodged a protest to the management.
“I was aghast to find the quality of food items, especially the milk that was laced with high quantities of water,” said Raj Sinha.
The MLA immediately called superintendent Dr AK Barnwal and showed him the quality of food being served to the patients. The trolley was covered with a dirty cloth and the delivery boy was not wearing gloves.
The hospital superintendent assured the MLA that the agency would be removed if it fails to improve the quality of food for patients.
After the episode, the food quality of the medical college hospital has been under question. The patients in all wards of the hospital complained to the MLA that substandard food is always served to patients. Despite repeated complaints to the hospital authority, no improvement has been made.
Rattled by the complaints of patients, MLA Raj Sinha took serious note and asked the civil surgeon to conduct a probe into the matter. He also directed him to complete the lift construction as soon as possible as ortho patients are suffering a lot.
