Sri Vijaya Puram, May 27, When the canteen at G.B. Pant Hospital was sealed last week for abysmal hygiene, it seemed like a much-needed intervention. But what began as a sanitation success has quickly spiralled into a new crisis, one that leaves patients, doctors, and caregivers battling not just illness but hunger.
On May 23, a group of MBBS doctors at the Union Territory’s only government referral hospital walked into the hospital canteen after a long shift, only to find what one of them later described as “a place no one should be made to eat in.” Rat droppings, foul smells, and an overall sense of decay prompted an immediate complaint.
Responding swiftly, SDM South Andaman raided the premises and sealed them, declaring the space unfit for food service. The action was lauded as necessary and overdue. But it left one glaring gap: with no alternative food arrangements in place, everyone dependent on the canteen has been left in the lurch.
Today, the hospital has no functioning canteen and no immediate replacement. For a healthcare facility that caters to hundreds of patients a day and houses medical staff working 12-hour shifts, the absence of even basic refreshments has hit hard. Patients’ attendants, who often wait all day clutching prescription slips or test results, say they now go without meals or depend on relatives to bring food from faraway homes.
“This is the only major hospital in the islands. I’ve been here since 7 a.m. with my son,” said one woman waiting outside the paediatrics department. “It’s now 3 p.m. and we haven’t had a single bite to eat. Where should we go in this rain?”
Indeed, the ongoing monsoon has made matters worse. With no eateries within walking distance and public transport being unreliable, stepping out for food is a challenge in itself. Doctors and hospital workers, already under immense pressure, now must scramble to find meals in the middle of packed shifts.
“It’s frustrating,” said a junior resident on condition of anonymity. “We understand the importance of hygiene, we were the ones who reported the problem. But shouldn’t there have been a fallback plan? What message are we sending if we can’t ensure something as basic as food inside a hospital?”
The hospital administration has not issued a formal statement yet, though insiders confirm that tenders for a new catering service are being explored. In the meantime, no temporary arrangements, even for tea and basic snacks, have been made available.
What has further aggravated public sentiment is the revelation that complaints about the canteen had existed for months. Many allege that the staff manning the facility were indifferent and even rude to those who raised concerns. Health workers say that while the closure of an unhygienic canteen was necessary, the absence of any contingency reflects deeper neglect.
