Chandigarh: Full catering services across PGI’s public and doctors’ canteens are expected to resume by Tuesday, following an assurance from local gas agencies to resolve a persistent LPG shortage. The Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) intervened after a gas deficit forced several outlets, including essential OPD canteens, to suspend operations or drastically limit their menus.The Association is currently finalising a comprehensive assessment of the daily cylinder requirements for each kitchen on campus. This data will be submitted to the gas agency by Monday morning to ensure a streamlined supply chain.“We communicated our requirements to the gas agency officials, and they assured us of the necessary allotments. We expect things to return to normalcy by Tuesday,” said Dr Vishnu Jinja, president of the ARD.PGI sees a daily footfall of 10,000 OPD patients, while there are over 8,000 employees in the hospital who, at any point in time, visit the canteen.The shortage previously crippled the institute’s food services, forcing contractors to rely on induction cooktops that proved incapable of handling the high-volume demand of a tertiary care centre. While some canteens remained open with limited meal options, others were forced to shut down entirely for several days, causing significant inconvenience to patients’ attendants and medical staff alike.“We cannot close down these essential services in a hospital, but the induction systems simply couldn’t cater to the large number of people at a time,” said a canteen contractor, adding that resumption of LPG supply is critical for maintaining hygiene and service speed.With the LPG problem addressed, the institute’s canteens—which serve thousands daily—are preparing to reinstate their full menus, including fast food services that were temporarily halted. MSID:: 129592316 413 |
