In a first, govt plans food courts in hosps like those on highways

Jaipur: State govt is all set to launch a first-of-its-kind initiative in govt hospitals by setting up food courts akin to those set up on national highways by National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), ensuring affordable and quality meals for attendants of patients, doctors and hospital staff.
For this purpose, the medical education department will rope in private players in establishing food courts across the state in hospitals attached to medical colleges.
The decision was taken by health minister Gajendra Singh Khimsar during his recent visit to Bikaner.
"Khimsar has issued directions for setting up food courts for attendants of patients and hospital staff in all the hospitals attached to medical colleges," Dr Gunjan Soni, principal of SP Medical College, Bikaner, said.
Soni said this concept is unprecedented in govt hospitals, with Rajasthan leading the implementation. "As per the initial planning, the vendor would be the same in all the hospitals of medical colleges as it will be done by the medical education department in Jaipur."
Currently, SMS Hospital lacks proper dining facilities for patients' relatives, doctors, and staff. Healthcare personnel must leave the premises for meals and refreshments. Patients' attendants currently eat in various undesignated areas within the hospital, increasing the risk of pest problems and infection spread. In govt hospitals, patients' attendants can be seen eating food they carry with them anywhere on the premises, leading to the risk of pest problems.
As no such places for food are available in hospitals, various NGOs, organisations, individuals, and the Shree Annapurna Rasoi Yojna provide affordable meals at or near govt hospitals, supporting patients' attendants with their food requirements. Whilst govt teaching hospitals provide free meals to admitted patients, their attendants must currently source food from external vendors.
In SMS Hospital, 31.6 lakh patients were registered for OPD, while 1.6 lakh patients were admitted to the hospital in 2024, and hundreds of hospital staff remain present daily but it has no dedicated place inside the hospital for food and snacks.
In SMS Hospital, even the resident doctors have complained several times about the need for a place in the hospital where they could eat something and drink coffee or tea, but the facility is not available.