Cuttack: Patients admitted to Mental Health Institute (MHI) of Sriram Chandra Bhanja Medical College and Hospital (SCBMCH) here are not provided adequate food, alleged their attendants.
It is alleged that patients at the MHI are being forced to arrange meals from hotels as foodstuff supplied by the authorities are insufficient to satiate their hunger.
Sources said the hospital authorities spend `50 per day to provide breakfast, lunch and dinner to indoor patients.
“My sister who has been admitted to the MHI for eight days is not getting adequate food. Hospital staff has told us to bring food from home or hotel,” said attendant Gopal Sahu.
A few social activists have alleged irregularities in the distribution of foodstuff at the premier health institute. “We have information that people are siphoning bread, bananas and dry foods meant for patients at SCBMCH,” claims social activist Deepak Acharya.
Hospital superintendent Pratap Rath, however, rubbished the charge of irregularities in distribution of food among patients. “We have taken steps to check misappropriation of food stuff meant for the patients,” Rath said.
MHI in-charge Nilamadhab Rath, however, blamed abnormalities in the consumption pattern of people suffering from mental ailments. “Some patients at the MHI require more food than others to satisfy their hunger,” he claims.
Some attendants also alleged unavailability of essential medicines at Niramaya centre set up for mental care unit. “The hospital authorities claim that people can buy at least 30 varieties of drugs cheaper from Niramaya centre. However, one cannot get common medicines including sleeping pills at the government sponsored chemist shops,” alleges attendant Bishwajit Das.
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