Rs 33 for 3 meals a day: Bhopal hospital patients' food sparks concern over quality

Patients at the hospital received a modest lunch of potato-cauliflower curry, thin green dal, a small portion of rice, four chapatis, and two cucumber slices, served together on a thali. According to Hindustan Times, with breakfast and dinner included, the total expenditure per patient remains at Rs. 33, raising questions about the adequacy, nutritional value, and overall quality of meals being provided in a government-run healthcare setting. “We are providing food at a cost of Rs. 33 per day, which includes salaries of the staff,” said the canteen in-charge at the JP Hospital.

The revelation is shocking considering that even a day’s meals provided to cows at the government shelters takes Rs. 40, and for the inmates in the state’s jails, Rs. 70 is allocated. According to the official record, the state government has allocated Rs. 48 for a patient’s meals in a day; however, many have observed that most hospitals are not even investing Rs. 40 a day.

The issue regarding the deplorable quality of food in government-run hospitals gained attention on Friday after a few patients admitted to Madhav Nagar Government Hospital in Ujjain shared videos of the food that is being served to them. The videos showed dal with very few lentils in water, half-cooked chapatis, and vegetable curry. After the video went viral, the hospital in-charge, Dr Vikram Raghuvanshi, wrote to the health department informing them about the poor quality of food and to take the necessary action for improving the prevailing situation, reports The Daily.

The official diet chart of district hospitals mandates that breakfast should include Dalia, poha, banana, upma, and 250 ml of milk. As far as lunch is concerned, it is supposed to have salad, four chapatis, green vegetables, lentils, and rice, while dinner includes chapatis, vegetables, and lentils. Tea and biscuits are also supposed to be delivered to the patients in the evening.

One of the patients at the hospital showed the watery green dal in his plate and added that they had no option but to eat the “bad” food. Another patient from Bhopal said, “If I complain about food, I will not be treated. I eat what is given to me.” However, pregnant women receive two bananas and two ladoos in addition to the food, which costs the government Rs. 40 per day for a patient, under the National Health Mission. A woman, resident of Kalakheda village in Bhopal, delivered a child a few days ago, and she received two laddoos and two bananas extra.

The officials informed that Rs. 48 for a day’s meal was allocated in the budget in 2014, and there has been no revision since then. Officials also pointed out that compared to many neighbouring states, such as Rajasthan, which allocates Rs. 70 per day, the amount is quite meagre. Other states like Chhattisgarh have a budget of Rs. 150, Uttar Pradesh Rs. 116, and Odisha between Rs. 85 and Rs. 110, but the Madhya Pradesh government is still allocating Rs. 48 for a patient’s meals in a day.

Medical superintendent of Bundelkhand Medical College also talked about the problem of the low meal budget, stating, “Budget is definitely not sufficient, but we have to provide food at this or lower rate.” Dr Raghuvanshi also pointed out that they are making every possible attempt to provide good meals, stating, “It is a matter of health, and good food is necessary for the recovery of patients.” Minister of State for Health, Narendra Shivaji Patel, said, “We are improving health departments’ infrastructure and facilities continuously. Budget is a thing that needs continuous review. We will review the budgetary provision for meals being provided to patients.”