Clinical diet to be provided in all government hospitals

Packed and hygienic, it incorporates 7 to 8 variations

Wholesome fare: Currently, a specialised clinical diet is provided to patients at the Government Multi Super Specialty Hospital at Omandurar Estate.

The Health Department is planning to expand the ‘tailor-made’ clinical diet to all government hospitals in the State in a phased manner, according to Health Secretary J. Radhakrishnan.

Shortly after inaugurating the 10th Apollo International Clinical Nutrition Update 2018 on Saturday, he said,“We engaged a nutritionist and introduced a specialised clinical diet at the Tamil Nadu Government Multi Super Specialty Hospital (TNGMSSH) at Omandurar Estate. We are planning to expand this to all government hospitals,” he said.

As of now, appropriate diet is prepared and given to patients in government hospitals. At TNGMSSH, tailor-made diets, packed and sealed, are provided to patients, he said.

Nutritionist Meenakshi Bajaj had introduced seven to eight forms of diet such as renal diet at TNGMSSH. Similar packed diet would be expanded to all government hospitals in a phased manner, he said.

Speaking at the programme, he said that quite a lot of people tend to fall for fake information on social media. “Well-qualified persons such as nutritionists should encourage people to be well-informed. Evidence-based knowledge should be translated into practice,” he said. One of the biggest challenges in nutrition in Tamil Nadu was anaemia, he noted. Sunita Reddy, managing director of Apollo Hospitals, said, “In today’s population, what we eat is causing diabetes and other non-communicable diseases such as cardiac and joint problems.” She urged clinical nutritionists and dieticians to look at Indian diet.

‘Keep the young healthy’

“Look a little at Ayurveda. Get different perspectives. While you are treating the sick, it is important to prevent people from becoming sick. Keep the young healthy,” she said.

N. Sathyabhama, regional director of medical services, Apollo Hospitals, Chennai, said dieticians helped the patients make a quick recovery.

A total of 700 delegates from across 12 countries were taking part in the two-day clinical nutrition update organised by the Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics Department of Apollo Hospitals. This year, the theme was “Enhancing Clinical Nutrition Practice”.

It would highlight the current scientific trends, nutrition care process, nutrition focussed physical examinations and nutrition assessment-identifying malnutrition. Bhuvaneshwari Shankar, organising chairperson, spoke.