Mysuru witnessed a stir in its public healthcare system when Dr H Krishna, Chairman of the Karnataka State Food Commission, conducted surprise inspections at KR Hospital, Cheluvamba Hospital, and the Super Speciality Hospital on Wednesday. His unannounced visit revealed alarming deficiencies in hygiene, basic infrastructure, and food quality—especially in in-patient and Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) wards.
At Cheluvamba Hospital, Dr Krishna was shocked by the absence of clean drinking water and the poor sanitation of toilets and wards. He condemned the SAM ward’s condition and recommended immediate suspension of two staff members for gross negligence.
He instructed Dr KR Dakshayani, Director and Dean of Mysuru Medical College and Research Institute (MMCRI), to ensure clean drinking water across all four affiliated hospitals and mandated the installation of geysers in every ward within 72 hours.
Further scrutiny of the hospital food system revealed discrepancies between the prescribed diet and what was served. “Only three out of five scheduled items were given. Items like vegetable gravy and curd were missing,” said Dr Krishna. He directed food contractors to establish dedicated kitchens within each hospital, ending the practice of transporting food from one facility to another.
Emphasizing the need for accountability, he warned of stricter penalties in future visits. “Unless tough action is taken, no improvement will occur. I refrained today, but if this continues, harsher measures are inevitable,” he said.
The inspection was accompanied by MMCRI officials and Food and Civil Supplies Joint Director Manteswamy.