| News Details |
| Patient safety at risk:Balvinder Singh demands end to unregulated Hospital Diet | |
Jammu, August 28 (Scoop News)- A serious and deeply concerning gap in patient care has emerged in Government Hospitals across the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir, where the absence of adequate professional dietary supervision is adversely affecting the nutritional care of patients.
Renowned RTI and Social Activist Balvinder Singh has raised serious concern over the practice of serving largely standardized meals to admitted patients without adequately considering their individual medical conditions and nutritional requirements.
He said that a patient suffering from diabetes, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, heart disease or other serious ailments cannot be expected to recover on the same diet as every other patient. A diabetic patient may require controlled carbohydrates, a kidney patient may need restrictions on sodium, potassium, fluids or protein, while a patient recovering from major surgery may require increased calories and protein for proper healing.
“Nutrition is not merely food; it is an essential part of medical treatment. If medicines are prescribed according to the disease, why should the diet remain the same for every patient?” Balvinder Singh questioned.
He expressed particular concern for economically weaker patients who depend entirely on government hospitals. While affluent patients can seek private consultation and specialized dietary care, poor patients often have no alternative and depend upon the hospital for medicines, treatment as well as food. For such patients, the hospital diet is not a choice—it is part of their treatment.
Balvinder Singh said the absence or shortage of qualified Dietitians/Clinical Nutritionists in government hospitals has created a serious administrative and medical gap. Hospital kitchens should not function merely as catering units; they must operate under proper clinical supervision, with diets prepared according to the medical condition of individual patients and in consultation with treating doctors.
He urged the Hon’ble Chief Minister, Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor and Hon’ble Minister for Health & Medical Education, J&K, to intervene urgently and ensure creation and filling of adequate permanent posts of qualified Dietitians in Government Hospitals across J&K.
He also demanded disease-specific diet charts, proper dietary assessment of patients, professional supervision of hospital kitchens, regular monitoring of food quality and strict inclusion of therapeutic dietary requirements in hospital food contracts.
“A hospital cannot merely provide medicines and keep a patient alive; it must create every possible condition for recovery. Every patient, irrespective of his economic status, deserves safe, dignified and medically appropriate nutrition. The health and survival of our people cannot be left to a one-size-fits-all kitchen menu,” Balvinder Singh said.
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