Mangaluru: Health and family welfare minister UT Khader has directed the superintendent of Wenlock District Hospital to assess whether the soya and paneer currently supplied by Iskcon provide better nutritional value than eggs. The directive follows a demand by members of the Arogya Raksha Samiti, who urged the health department to increase the quantity of food served to patients and include eggs in the hospital diet.Khader, at a review meeting held on Saturday, said that if the assessment finds eggs to be a better nutritional option and the hospital decides to introduce them, the budget currently allocated to Iskcon for supplying soya and paneer could instead be utilised for procuring eggs.Meanwhile, students of the Govt Nursing College on the Wenlock District Hospital campus highlighted the lack of adequate hostel facilities for over 261 students. Responding to the demand, minister Khader said the proposal would be considered, adding that plans for a new hostel building have already been prepared.Addressing the shortage of nursing staff at the hospital, Khader suggested that newly recruited nurses should be required to serve for at least three years. Noting that many nurses resign after completing two years to pursue better opportunities abroad, he proposed making a six-month notice period mandatory for those who wish to leave within the first three years of service.The minister also directed the hospital to make optimum use of nursing students undergoing clinical training. He further suggested that paramedical colleges using Wenlock Hospital for clinical training should also contribute nursing staff to help address the manpower shortage.On a demand for round the clock pharmacy service, the minister directed the hospital superintendent Dr Shivaprakash DS to look into the issue. ‘Issue a ‘Zero Bill’ mentioning actual cost’The health minister lauded the facilities and services offered to poor patients at the govt hospital and said that people also should know the amount they saved by availing treatment at the govt-run hospital.“For each BPL patient, issue a detailed bill mentioning the actual cost of treatment they received for free at this govt hospital,” the minister told the hospital authorities.
