Ranchi: The ongoing fear of LPG crisis has also started to hit healthcare systems in the city, compelling several hospitals to turn to alternative arrangements such as electric stoves, coal and firewood to prepare meals for in-house patients.While the hospital authorities have not made any dietary changes yet, alternative fuel sources have increased the time for serving meals to patients, creating inconvenience. Despite the hurdles, hospitals are ensuring nutritious meals for every patient according to their needs, hospital authorities said.
At Raj Hospitals at the MG Road area, the authorities have started preparing food using electric stoves, as their LPG stock is on the brink of running out.“With the LPG stock, we can only keep the kitchen for just the next one or two days. So, we have arranged some electric stoves and are trying to meet patients’ requirements with that. We have not made any changes to patients’ diet, and it will not be altered at any cost,” Arvind Kumar, PRO of the hospital, told TOI.Curesta Hospital in the Dipatoli area made a similar arrangement to keep its kitchen running. Istiyaque Ashraf, operations manager of the hospital, said, “We have tried all means to arrange LPG cylinders to run the kitchen smoothly. Some sellers in the market asked Rs 2,500- 3,000 for a single cylinder, and we need three to four cylinders a day. That will take a significant financial toll on the expenses. So, we have decided to use electric stoves. It has slowed food serving to an extent, but we are trying to manage.”Karan Choubey, a caterer who runs kitchen in four private hospitals in the city, said that he has increased the number of employees to ensure food to patients promptly.“Not all patients are given the same food as it depends on their requirements and the doctors’ advice. Sometimes, some patients need food immediately. So, I have increased the staff adequately so that all requirements can be fulfilled,” Choubey said.While the private hospitals running in the city are facing inconvenience in arranging LPG cylinders and have turned to alternate arrangements, govt-run hospitals have not yet faced any such situation.Dr Prabhat Kumar, Ranchi civil surgeon, said that the Ranchi Sadar hospital is not facing any hardship and everything is running smoothly in the hospital.Surti Devi, who runs a kitchen at Ranchi Sadar Hospital under Mukhyamantri Daal Bhat Yojana, providing nutritious food to OPD patients and their attendants at an affordable rate, has started using coal and firewood to run the kitchen. “But the coal prices have also increased sharply. On Thursday, I bought a bag of coal at Rs 750, which was around Rs 490 on Wednesday. In the kitchen, we serve around 600 people every day,” she added.
