HC seeks fresh report on condition of SCB's central kitchen
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Cuttack: Orissa high court has asked the advocates' committee of the High Court Bar Association to revisit the central kitchen of SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack and submit a fresh report, following allegations of preparation of food under unhygienic conditions for patients.
The court was hearing the matter based on a report submitted by the committee on Thursday. The report, based on an inspection on June 30, highlighted serious health concerns, including non-functional roti-making machines and unsanitary conditions posing risk to patient health.
The court was shown video footage that revealed lapses like kitchen staff collecting rotis without gloves, many without head and mouth covers, and personnel wearing shoes being allowed inside the kitchen area.
Taking on record an affidavit filed by the SCB superintendent, the division bench comprising Justices S K Sahoo and V Narasingh asked the committee to submit a fresh report. The matter is scheduled for further hearing on Sept 11.
In his affidavit filed on July 29, SCB superintendent Dr Goutam Kumar Satapathy stated that the hospital has 2,772 functional beds. However, a surplus number of patients are being admitted and accommodated beside the beds and are being provided with medical services and food.
Indoor patients are being provided with cooked and dry diet thrice a day as per the requirement received from different wards and departments.
Satapathy acknowledged the issues raised in the report and stated that food services had been outsourced to a Berhampur-based agency in line with National Health Mission (NHM) guidelines. The agency has been given space, power, and water to operate on the hospital premises.
He informed the court that mechanical roti preparation had resumed on July 21 using new machines with conveyor belt roasting. Civil and electrical renovation work in the kitchen, undertaken by the roads and buildings department, is expected to be completed by the end of Aug. Rodent control measures will follow.
A meeting of the hospital's diet vigilance committee was held on July 4, where steps to improve kitchen hygiene and efficiency were discussed. The hospital superintendent assured the court that strict hygiene protocols would be enforced.
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