The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) administration launched an investigation on Monday into a complaint alleging that a cockroach was found in a meal served to a patient admitted to the premier institute.
The incident was brought to light after a Twitter user posted details and photographs.
The Twitter user claimed that a cockroach was found in a 'daal' served to a four-year-old.
"Pathetic and frightening state of affairs at the most prestigious Medical facility in National Capital- Serving „Cockroach Daal“ to a 4-year-old as first meal post major stomach surgery @aiims_newdelhi Shocked beyond belief," the user Sahil Zaidi said in a tweet.
Following the tweet, official sources said, "Hospital authorities have taken a serious note of the incident and are investigating the matter," news agency PTI reported.
Four of the seven food samples collected by the Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) from the mess at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) reportedly failed the food safety standards, as per a report by Hindustan Times dated in the month of September.
A similar incident was reported in Navi Mumbai in July of this year. According to the Hindustan Times, a patient admitted to the orthopaedic ward of Vashi General Hospital complained about a cockroach in the food he was served.
According to data from the Directorate General of State Health Services, India has 35,416 government hospitals with approximately 1.37 million beds. There are 26,604 government hospitals in rural areas. Each of these hospitals has a canteen where patients can get food.
People who visit hospitals are more vulnerable to food-borne illnesses than the general population, according to the FSSAI. Pathogen contamination of food could be especially dangerous. In fact, the small numbers of enteric pathogens that are innocuous to most healthy people can cause disease and even death in susceptible patients, particularly immune-compromised subjects.
(With Inputs From Agencies)