Minister inspects quality of hospital food

Suraj A. Bandara

Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena inspected the hygienic quality of the food provided for patients at the Colombo General hospital kitchen.

This is the first time in 12 years that a Health Minister visited the General hospital kitchen.

The Minister rushed to kitchen, in response to a complaint that meals are not properly prepared and it was of low quality.

Annually, the Government spent more than Rs. 830 million for providing meals for free distribution to the patients and hospitals. Though the Government in committed to provide, quality and nutritious food to inmates, certain hospital authorities had failed to look into the quality of the food provided.

The Minister was convinced that the fact hospital kitchen is not properly inspected by the hospital authorities leaving the food suppliers to provide low quality foods according to their whims and fancies.

The Minister said many patients have complained about the meals provided free are of poor quality, therefore should adopt a transparent system to ensure patients are provided hygienic food, he said.

The Minister questioned the authorities regarding food preservation, in particular, meats, fish and vegetables.

What should be the qualifications in selecting contrators were also disused in detail. The fact or in also relevant in providing quality meals, the minister added.

The Minister instructed the Heath Servcie Director General, Dr. Ajith Mendis to prepare a comprehensive report on the food distributions in hospitals immediately.