Healthcare goes on a diet at two CHCs in Lucknow
Patients at Mohanlalganj centre given 200 ml milk instead of prescribed 500 ml and bread without butter – that too in polythene packets
LUCKNOW: As if difficulties in seeing a doctor and getting medicines were not enough, hapless patients also face other problems like getting half the prescribed meal.
In a glaring example, patients, including pregnant and lactating mothers, were being fed half of the prescribed meal at the community health centre (CHC) in Mohanlalganj. They were served 200 ml milk instead of the prescribed 500 ml for breakfast.
Worse still, bread was served without butter – that too in polythene packets, use of which is injurious to health. The matter came to light during a surprise check by district health officials on Sunday morning.
“A diet chart is displayed at every health centre and here 500 ml milk was to be served. If milk is not available then eggs/fruits are to be given to ensure proper meal,” said Dr GS Bajpayee, chief medical officer (CMO), Lucknow.
The chart displayed in the corridor says bread with butter to be given in breakfast along with milk but the patients were served only bread.
The food supply is outsourced and money is given to the supplier against supply of food items for each bed in the hospital concerned. As occupancy is 100% hence there is no chance of reducing the supply. The afternoon meals comprise rice, chapati, dal or vegetable, salad/ papad. The same menu is repeated at night.
The meals have been decided by experts keeping in view the need of patients undergoing treatment and also that many of those getting admitted are poor and cannot afford proper diet outside their homes. The morning-to-night diet chart has been prepared as many medicines are not to be taken by patients on an empty stomach.
Similar anomaly came to fore at the Gosainganj community health centre where vegetables were missing from the platter and pregnant women were served only rice, chapati and dal. Dal is mandatory in case of pregnant women.
The CMO called for an explanation from the superintendents of both the health centres on Monday.