The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) after taking stock of the high-protein breakfast programme, which was introduced in Sion Hospital for resident doctors, has decided to execute it in KEM and Nair Hospitals too. The new breakfast scheme was introduced a month ago when an increasing number of doctors were found to be contracting TB. The BMC in its survey found that the footfall in the mess in Sion Hospital has increased four-fold after the new breakfast menu was introduced.
“We introduced the new, high-protein breakfast on August 15 and we had said that we would survey how it has fared in a month’s time. We have learnt that more resident doctors are turning up for breakfast in the mess than before, and they have expressed satisfaction with what they are being served,” said Manisha Mhaiskar, additional municipal commissioner, BMC.
Earlier, the civic body gave a discount of `10 for breakfast, which resulted in a poor turnout in the mess and also unhealthy food habits amongst resident doctors. The Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (Mard) also protested when doctors started falling prey to the communicable disease, tuberculosis. The BMC then formed a four-member committee, which comprised a dietician, a Mard member, deputy dean and the mess contractor. In addition, the civic body also upped the cap on breakfast to `25, which is borne completely by the BMC. “The new breakfast regime has proved to be very effective. Earlier, only about 150 residents would go to the mess for breakfast and eat mostly junk food, because of the meagre `10 limit. But now, the cap has been increased to `25 and the menu has been set with our consultation so that everybody is happy and the purpose is also met,” said Dr Vikas Dixit, president Sion Mard. At present, civic-run Sion Hospital has 13 staff members, while the KEM and Nair Hospital have 10 and 9 members respectively. These staff members include interns, doctors, nursing staff and Class IV workers suffering from TB.