Biryani in MICU room, courtesy KEM ward boy

It has come to light that, shockingly, the medical intensive care unit (MICU) on the second floor of civic-run KEM Hospital has been turned into a kitchen by a ward boy to rustle up some biryani, both vegetarian and non-vegetarian.

According to hospital sources, this is a regular feature and biryani is served to staff and doctors serving in this particular ward. Further, anyone who wants to eat the biryani has to pay '100. Sources said that the regular place for carrying out cooking activity was the operation theatre on the first floor. However, as the operation theatre was closed, the MICU ward doubled as kitchen on Saturday. Apparently, vegetarian biryani was served on Saturday as it was the first day of the Hindu festival of Navratri otherwise non-vegetarian biryani too was served.

The cook aka ward boy in the MICU ward, Abdullah Qureshi, said, “All doctors and staff relish my biryani. I usually cook non-vegetarian biryani but since the demand was for vegetarian, I cooked vegetarian biryani on Saturday.”

The gas that is used for sterilisation of medical instruments is used for cooking. The makeshift kitchen is located adjacent to the MICU room where patients take their emergency treatment. Patients who are critical are usually shifted to the MICU.

A source said, “This is done every week and it’s not safe for the patients as it can be dangerous if spices are spilled or a fire breaks out.”

The Asian Age visited the MICU and asked Mr Qureshi how he was allowed to cook. “There is no separate kitchen for doctors and they get bored of eating canteen and restaurant food. So, after paying '100 each, if they get good food, what is the problem ” he asked.

KEM Hospital’s Acting Dean Dr Anil Gwalani said, “I am unaware about such things. I will probe this and take action and see to it that in future, it is not repeated.” Asked if it was okay to cook in the MICU or anywhere else in the hospital, he said, “Absolutely not. It’s a room for treating patients, not cooking food.”

Meanwhile, Dr Jayesh Lele, president of Maharashtra wing of Indian Medical Association, said, “This practice should be immediately stopped. Gas or any kind of cooking done in the MICU or near it is fatal.”