VSS Medical College and Hospital in Burla. Telegraph picture

Sambalpur, Nov. 23: The VSS Medical College and Hospital in Burla is yet to implement its plan to serve cooked food to the patients. The government-run hospital had decided to provide cooked food from August 15.

“Often we see attendants of the patients cooking food on the hospital premises. It will become a boon for the patients, if the hospital starts serving cooked food,” said Manoj Mishra, an attendant.

Ajay Dhal, dietician of the hospital, said: “Earlier, it was not possible to serve cooked food with a dietary allowance of Rs 20 per day. The sum was insufficient to serve cooked food. However, as the government increased the amount to Rs 50 per day, the hospital authorities decided to serve cooked food and entrusted a private organisation with the job.”

“The authorities had entrusted one Mars Developer with the task. The agreement was signed on June 1. We had planned to serve cooked food to the patients from August 15. But, the organisation is yet to start the process,” said Dhal.

Two other government medical colleges of the state — SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack and MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur — have started serving cooked food to their patients. “The firm has delayed the process on the pretext of poor infrastructure. However, we are trying to start it as soon as possible,” said Dhal. VSS superintendent Santosh Behera said: “We have given an ultimatum to the firm to start serving cooked food by November 30. If the organisation does not start within the deadline, we will cancel the licence.”

However, proprietor of the firm Rabinarayan Routray said: “The hospital authorities are yet to hand over the diet station to us. We will start catering cooked food as soon as possible.”

Patients belonging to 10 districts of western Odisha and those of the neighbouring states visit VSS Medical College and Hospital.