LARKANA, Aug 17: The management of the Chandka Medical College Hospital is in a fix as how to meet the daily food expenses of the patients under the budget-2003-2004.

Sources on Sunday revealed that the Sindh government’s health department had earmarked a budget of around Rs2 million to cater to the dietary needs of the 1,230-bed hospital.

The additional medical superintendent said that if food is provided three times a day, then the allocation per patient stands at Rs4.45, and added that it is quite impossible to provide three meals to the patients under the allocated amount.

He elucidated that at least Rs3 million more were required to meet the needs.

He said that the health department had been apprised about the shoestring budget several times but in vain.

It has been learnt that presently the management of the hospital was providing diet from the ‘users charges’ it collects from the services it offers.

Sources said that other hospitals attached with medical colleges in Sindh province were being allocated larger budgets for dietary needs in comparison to the Chandka Medical College Teaching Hospital.

The Civil Hospital Karachi has 1,400 beds and gets Rs5.54 million. Each patient received only Rs10.83 for food for the entire day, whereas the Liaquat Medical College Hospital has 1,200 beds and gets Rs5.54 million.

The Peoples Medical College Hospital has 750 beds and gets Rs2.64 million for food. Each patient received only Rs9.64 per day for food.

The budget allocations for medicines to the CMCH would unveil more injustices, said a source in the hospital.

He said that the Civil Hospital Karachi (1,400 beds) gets an annual budget of Rs60.76 million for medicines whereas the CMCH gets an annual budget of Rs20.37 million for medicines.

Sources said so the Chandka Medical College Teaching Hospital requires an additional amount of Rs30 million under the head of medicines to meet the growing demands in line with the strength of beds.