Patients’ food is stolen in hospitals

Algeria’s health minister Abdelmalek Boudiaf Thursday formed a commission to investigate about considerable quantities of food and meat transferred from hospitals, Echorouk has learnt.

The commission includes general inspectors and senior executives. A number of nurses, security guards and officials were involved in transferring food and meat to other places.

The minister warned the involved people of prosecution. This comes as he received a detailed report about the transfer.

The report shows that reception centre director at a hospital was caught stealing meat, yogurt, tuna, cooking oil and milk.

According to investigations, the director is used to smuggle a considerable quantity of food and meat from the hospital to his house.

The same sources said meals are given to patients following data sheet which are prepared on a daily basis depending on the number of patients. A meal cost is estimated between 300 DZ and 500 DZ. Food is given according to every patient’s needs.

The ministry imposes on hospitals to offer a pot of yogurt and a mineral water bottle with every meal. Yet, thefts in catering department or other departments in a number of hospitals deprive many patients of food. Because of that, the real cost of daily meal for every patients does not exceed 150 DZ.