Thane Hospital canteen shut after cockroach allegedly found in patient's food

Thane: Following a complaint that a cockroach was allegedly found in food served to a patient at the BMC-run Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital in Kalwa, the hospital canteen has been temporarily shut, while the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has collected food samples for examination.

According to the news reports, the canteen will remain closed for the next two to three days, hospital dean Dr Swapnali Kadam said. The hospital administration has meanwhile made temporary arrangements to ensure that patients continue to receive meals without interruption.

Also Read:Inquiry launched after dead cockroach allegedly found in patient's dal at Thane Hospital

Hospital officials said food is being arranged from another location until the canteen is cleared to resume operations. The temporary arrangement has been put in place to ensure that patients who depend on the hospital for their daily meals are not affected by the FDA inspection and subsequent action.

The action followed an August 28 incident in which a cockroach was allegedly found in food served to a patient. The matter was subsequently raised by the Konkan Environment and Public Welfare Society, an NGO that also staged a sit-in at the dean’s chamber, demanding action against those responsible. The incident also sparked concern among patients and their relatives over food hygiene and safety at the hospital canteen.

Medical Dialogues had previously reported that a dead cockroach was allegedly found in a bowl of dal served to a patient at CSMM Hospital in Thane, prompting the hospital administration to launch an inquiry into the incident.

Speaking to the Mid-Day, Swapnil Mahindrakar, an activist who had raised the issue, said the action should not end with the temporary closure of the canteen. “Although the FDA has taken action, merely shutting the canteen is not enough. The contractor should be blacklisted and should not be awarded any work by the Thane Municipal Corporation. A contractor who plays with the health of patients must be permanently barred from undertaking civic work,” he said.

Following the complaint, FDA officials inspected the canteen kitchen and reportedly found violations of food safety norms. The canteen's operations were subsequently suspended, and samples were collected for further examination.

The canteen is expected to reopen only after the FDA's report is received and the necessary clearance is granted by the department.

“The FDA has collected the necessary samples, and the canteen will remain closed for the next two to three days. The hospital administration immediately stepped in and made arrangements for providing meals to patients on a temporary basis. We have ensured that patients continue to receive their meals on time,” said Dr Kadam, reports Mid-Day.

Meanwhile, Swapnil Mahindrakar, Thane City President of the MNS Public Welfare and Legal Cell, demanded strict criminal action against the contractor involved. According to Free Press Journal, "While the FDA's intervention is welcome, merely shutting down the canteen is not enough. The contractor who jeopardised patient health must be permanently blacklisted and barred from receiving any future contracts from the Thane Municipal Corporation," Swapnil Mahindrakar, Thane City President, Public Welfare & Legal Cell, MNS, said.

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