The Goa Medical College (GMC) Bambolim though trying to be at it’s level best still lacks in some of the necessary aspects despite being one of the oldest medical colleges in Asia. Specifically talking about the college canteen would be a matter of great importance.
Authorities had informed the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that they had improved sanitation and cleanliness in the canteens on the premises. But during an inspection when FDA officials visited GMC and inspected two canteens it was found that they lacked cleanliness. They had informed the erstwhile dean of the GMC about the pathetic state of affairs prevailing there and asked him to resolve the situation within a week.
Currently, GMC functions with three canteens comprising of the Outpatient Department (OPD) canteen, college canteen and the third one which has been informally leased out to another party (Nescafe). A student of the Goa Medical College (GMC) is quoted as saying, “We have a canteen with reasonably priced food and sitting arrangement of tables ranging from between 10 to 12 tables, but that’s not it. I prefer getting my lunch box from home as the food in the canteen is very unhygienic and oily, which I feel is very harmful for ones health simultaneously the storing and the cooking of the food isn’t acceptable at least by me.”
The food and drug administration (FDA) report of 2012 states that, during the surprise inspection, FDA officials found sanitation conditions extremely poor in both canteens and domestic animals were even found roaming in the kitchen area.
In continuation to this there is the Outpatient Department (OPD) canteen which has a part of the canteen specifically for doctors, but it has been observed that patients too enter the canteen which already has a small margin area of space with only 2 to 3 tables in the room. Walking outdoors and having a look at the third canteen which has been given to be operated by Nescafe, preferably for visitors and public, it has been observed that the canteen has no shade and the entire place is in a mess and covered with bird excreta. Students continue to urge for faster up-gradation of the canteen as they look forward for seeing better and hygienic food.
