Hospitals, medical colleges ban chicken from menu

Kolkata: Following the carcass meat case that has already triggered a flutter in the state, various medical colleges and hospitals in the city have decided not to serve chicken among the patients as a precautionary measure.

Most of the medical college and hospital authorities in the city have issued instructions to keep chicken out of the menu, in view of the rotten meat row. It has been learnt that top medical colleges in the city, including the multi super-speciality SSKM and the Calcutta Medical College and Hospital, have decided not to serve chicken among the patients, as it might create confusion among them.

According to sources, patients in the government hospitals or medical colleges get chicken once or twice a week. But for the last few days, the hospital authorities have asked the catering companies to not provide chicken to the patients, until the dead meat debacle gets sorted. Instead of chicken, the patients are getting fish or egg curry, depending on their choice.

It may be mentioned here that in SSKM Hospital, patients get chicken once in a week during lunch. If any patient is willing to have vegetarian dishes, they can easily opt for them.

According to a senior official of SSKM, ever since the matter came to light, there has been an impact of the incident on the patients as well. Many patients have also become unwilling to have chicken. "There is no point in serving chicken at a time when a huge amount of rotten meat has been recovered from various parts of the state and the matter is still under investigation," he said.

The other list of food items on offer remains unchanged. Like usual, the patients are getting milk, bread and banana for breakfast. On some days of the week, the patients the getting vegetable dishes, while on the other days they can opt for fish or egg.

A senior official of Calcutta Medical College and Hospital said that the revised menu will continue till further order issued in this regard.