HIT BELOW THE BELT
1) OPD canteen
2) College canteen
3) Hospital canteen
* The operators of above three canteens have been issued spot inspection reports and told to stop their operations immediately
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WHAT DOES FDA REPORT SAY ...
>> Ants, lizards, cockroaches, etc observed in the kitchen
>> The refrigerator found in a dirty condition
>> Food items stored in the refrigerator not covered
>> Food colours being used in prepared food, which is not permitted
>> Windows in the kitchen premises not provided with fly-proof netting
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PANAJI: A day after the canteen contractors running various canteens at the Goa Medical College and Hospital expressed fear that the government would use the Food and Drugs Administration Department (FDA) to find fault with them, officials of the FDA department swooped down on the canteens and found fault with their hygiene.
All the three canteens -- OPD canteen, college canteen and the canteen at the hospital -- have been issued spot inspection reports and have been directed to stop their operations immediately. The timing of the inspections is significant because they come on the eve of the scheduled opening of e-tender bids to operate canteens in the state's Apex hospital.
Perhaps with a view to “professionalise” the canteen services at the State’s premier Medical institution and replace the current canteen contractors who are ‘locals’ with ‘agencies’, the Health Department had floated tenders to outsources canteen services, including in-patient meals.
The FDA in its report after the raid said that they found the conditions in the hygiene unhygienic.
“Ants, lizards, cockroaches, etc were observed in the kitchen, [the] refrigerator was found in a dirty condition, food items stored in the refrigerator were not covered, food colours were being used in prepared food, which is not permitted. Windows in the kitchen premises were not provided with fly-proof netting,” the report stated.
“Rotis meant for preparing samosas were stored in garbage bags covered with ants. Cut vegetables were stored in open. Water filter was not in working condition. The exhaust fan was fully covered with dust and flaking of paint observed in the kitchen. The raw material was kept in open condition like cornflower, biryani masala etc. Iron knives and wooden boards were used for chopping,” the report said adding that flooring below grinder was very dirty.
The FDA claimed that similar observations of unhygienic conditions and practices were observed in the past during FDA inspections and notices were served.
The question of the timing of the raids is not insignificant as it comes barely days before the e-tender bids are opened with agencies bidding to replace the existing local contractors with outside agencies.
The FDA department is now being accused by local contractors of making attempts to get rid of them.
The Goan, on Sunday, reported how local canteen operators at the GMC hospital are bitter about the State government’s plans to outsource the seven canteens and have accused the government of attempting to snatch their contracts and hand them over to outsiders.
“It is an open secret that the government uses the FDA to get rid of food contractors. It is no different at the GMC hospital, with the FDA likely to indirectly harass and snatch away the canteens from local contractors and hand them over to outside companies,” said a local businessman.
Their charges are substantiated by the fact that these contracts are to be given on a 15-year contract to those companies with an annual turnover of ₹15 crore, virtually eliminating local contractors from participating in the bidding.
The existing contractors point to the fact that Rane is on a privatization spree of the services at the GMC with Rane already having privatized pharmacies to the detriment of the government-run pharmacy as well as the laundry services at the GMC, leaving the existing services unemployed.
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Inspections routine: Vishwajit
PANAJI: Health Minister Vishwajit Rane has said that the inspections conducted by the FDA inspectors were ‘routine.’ “There were lots of complaints and it's routine,” Rane said.
“The food business operators were directed to improve the conditions. A temporary improvement was observed but during today's inspection, it was seen that they have gone back to the same old conditions and unhygienic practices,” the report stated.
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Bid opening date
postponed again
PANAJI: The Goa Medical College tender seeking bidders who will provide kitchen and cafeteria services has seen its bid opening date postponed yet again for the second time.
The GMC had floated a tender to design, develop and install a fully equipped modern kitchen procuring raw material, cooking and serving all meals -- breakfast, lunch dinner, snacks, beverage, for patients, employees (doctors, faculty, students, staff, etc) and visitors and providing state of the art sales and serving counters in serving area at various locations of the Goa Medical College and Hospital.
A tender to provide similar services for 280 students and hostelites besides day scholars at the Institute of Nursing Education has also been floated.
Earlier the tenders were to be opened on April 6, after which it was postponed to April 10 and has now been kept for April 12.
The contract period of ten years, automatically renewable for a period of five years based on the certificate issued by dean or director of the Goa Medical College and Principal of the Institute of Nursing Education.
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Pvt company to supply food to GMC in-patients
PANAJI: The State government's decision to outsource all seven canteens at GMC hospital in Bambolim to a private company will also have a bearing on all in-patients receiving meals at the hospital.
According to sources, food offered to patients at GMC hospital in Bambolim is prepared in the hospital canteens, which include specialised cooking staff, dietitian and assistants in service.
“Breakfast, lunch, evening snacks and dinner is prepared in these canteens with the help of dietitians. With these canteens now set to be outsourced to a private company, all meals offered to in-patients will also be supplied by the private company,” said a source.
What has now added concern among the hospital's canteen staff is that they are not made clear about the duties given to them after the food for in-patients is outsourced to the private company.
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