Regular complaints from patients about the food served to them has forced Patna Medical College and Hospital to initiate a quality check.

The health managers of the hospital have been asked to conduct random checks on the food provided to patients at breakfast, lunch and dinner, said Bimal Karak, deputy superintendent, PMCH.

“Health managers have been deputed in different wards and would taste the thali provided to the patients at different times. The checks will be random so that checks can be efficient and if there is something wrong with the food, it can be detected immediately,” he said, adding that care was being taken to ensure that food is prepared in hygienic conditions.

Patients are given nourishment four times a day — breakfast, lunch, evening refreshment and dinner (see chart). Devendra Mohan, the dietician at the PMCH, said: “While breakfast is served between 9am and 9.30am, lunch is given between 12noon and 1pm. Patients are served dinner between 5pm and 7pm.”

Karak said: “The PMCH has 1,800 beds and most of them are occupied all the time. Patients suffering from kala-azar are provided extra food because of their weak physical condition.”

The health managers make rounds of the wards a number of times everyday. So, they have been given the duty of tasting the food and fruits.

Sources said it was a very important initiative as patients and doctors at the PMCH often complained about the quality of nourishment provided to them.

A senior doctor who did not want to be named said: “Earlier, the food provided to the patients was often sub-standard. This was because of lack of inspection. As a result, patients often suffered from food poisoning and other diseases.”

But now, things seem to have changed for the better, said patients and doctors.

Amarnath Jha, 42, a patient in the emergency department of the hospital, said he was satisfied with the food provided to him at the hospital. “Patients at government hospitals do not usually get good food. But I am very happy with the food given to me at PMCH. Even the fruits provided to me during breakfast are so fresh,” he said.

Some patients are sceptical about the initiative though.

“I appreciate the initiative of the hospital administration but I wonder how long they will stick to it,” said Jagat Narayan, a 55-year-old patient admitted to the emergency department.