Berhampur: Despite the state government’s efforts to strengthen the public healthcare system and violating the norms of NHM,diatery department in MKCGMCH functions in inadequate space as well hygenic conditoon.The irony is that the department is function at the annes part of the old indoor building of the MCH,which already declared unsafe.All the departments in the old indoor building has been shifted to other buildings but the diatery dept still functions.Incidently,the department providing nutritional need of over 1568 in-patients in shape of cooked and dry food,since more than one and half decade.As such,the food distribution has been outsourced to a private farm Nischint multi services,based at Bhubaneswar,since 2013.The Health Department had asked the MCH to introduce Diet Prescription Slips (DPS),keeping in mind the diet need of different patients,which too is not followed.The department had asked the dietary wing to introduce coloured diet slips for general, cancer, TB and other patients.As per provisions,the cost of diet for TB/cancer patients is Rs 85/- per day.For other patients, it is Rs 75/- and Rs 40/- for children. Rice, dal, curry and non-vegetarian items are served during meal.Dry food consists of bread, milk,eggs and bananas.The dietary department should have special diet like barley, arrowroot, coconut water and lemon drinks for diarrhoea patients.But since more than a decade,none of these food items has been provided to the patients in MCH.Rather,same diet is provided to both general and diarrhoea patients,admitted the staffs of the contractor entrusted to supply food.As per the norms,patients should be served with cooked food in disposable plates,but patients are given in polythence sochets and carry bags.Similarly the staffs should wear the uniform of the farm with head covered and gloves in hand,but nothing such happens.Moreover the patients often served food lately,mostly after 2.30 pm,although the scheduled time is 1 pm.Due to delay,many patients took food at the eatery in the hospital,but worst sufferers are the poors,who has no option other than to wait till the distribution.Abani gaya,senior advocate has alleged,all the irregularties done,,but the authorities put a blind eye over the matter.However,the MCH authorities claimed prescribed norms of govt has been followed.Although it was proposed to construct a separate building on the MCH premises to house the dietary department on an area of 16,500 sq ft, the proposal is yet to move beyond the official files.I/C Dean and supt of the MCH Prof Suchitra das said the State Government has been apprised of the vacancies and infrastructure issues of the dietary department.
