SERVICES

Situated at Level I, Block C, the Dietetics Department provides modified and therapeutic diets to about 475 general ward patients and 40 private ward patients in Block A and Block C at their bedside through 35 ward pantries. Diet is compulsory for all warded patients. All therapeutic diets are served in labelled insulated tiffin carriers. Facility exists for general ward patients to opt for private ward diet if they so desire.

•       Enteral nutrition is provided for the critically ill patients who are unable to take food orally. All therapeutic feeds are provided in labelled individual leak proof food grade plastic tumblers. All the warded patients on therapeutic diet are given detailed dietary instructions to be followed at home at the time of discharge. Day-to-day monitoring of patients’ condition is done through extensive daily ward rounds by dieticians.

•       The kitchen is run on contractual basis. The contractor is responsible for arranging raw material, fuel gas, manpower, cooking utensils and serviettes as per the recommendation of the institute while major equipment is provided by the hospital. The meals are prepared and served as per the daily instructions given by the dieticians who maintain a strict check on the quality of food and the services provided.

•       The diet is provided @ Rs.50/- per day in the general ward and @ Rs.85/- per day in the private ward.

•       The OPD patients referred from various OPDs, viz., Medicine, Surgery, Obstetrics and Gynaecology,
  Paediatrics, Psychiatry, Orthopaedics etc. are given diet counseling in the ‘Diet Clinic’ at Room No. 4206, Level I, Block B.

•       In addtion, dietician is a part of the team running the "Diabetic Foot Clinic" of the Department of  Surgery for providing diet consultation to diabetic patients.

•      Institute hospitality meetings of constituted committees, visits of dignitaries and college functions etc. is also looked  after the department.

•       To educate the masses regarding principles of nutrition, the department observes the Nutrition Week from I^st to 7^th September by organizing activities like Parent Nutrition Education Programmes, Nutrition Exhibition, Poster Competitions, Food & Nutrition Quiz Contests, Group Therapy Sessions  Cookery Contests etc. Dietetics Department has also organized five CME programmes  in association with the Department of Medicine, Paediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Surgery (twice) in each of which  more than 400 delegates from the North have participated.. These academic programmes have helped tremendously in enhancing the knowledge of the delegates besides generating goodwill among the medical and  the dietetic fraternity.

RESEARCH & TRAINING

•       The department has conducted research on the dietary habits and nutritional status of mentally retarded children and compared the same with those of normal school children, the findings of which were presented at the International Congress of Dietetics held at Chicago, USA in May, 2004. The dieticians have regularly been presenting papers at the National/Asian conferences also.

•      Every year the department provides internship training between 15th  June and 14th September to 9 students of PG Diploma in Dietetics and 3 students of M.Sc Foods & Nutrition from Govt. Home Science College, Chandigarh as well as to  6 students, 4 students and 2 students each   from colleges within Panjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh respectively.  The deadline for receiving applications from the Principals of the Colleges is 14^th May each year. The selection of candidates is  stictly on merit basis.

•     Besides internship training, Short Term Attachment (STA) training  for a period of six months is allowed for sixteen post graduate candidates in two batches of eight each per   year from anywhere in India. Selection is strictly on the basis of merit. The candidates apply directly to GMCH on prescribed application form which can be downloaded from  the website. Copies of mark sheets of the qualifying examination, B.Sc. degree/final year mark sheet plus a draft for a sum of Rs. two hundred only in favour of Director Principal, GMCH payable at Chandigarh are required to  be attached. . Last date for receipt of application shall be 31st August for  Batch 1 and 14th November for Batch II. Certificate for STA training is not awarded to any candidate who fails to complete the entire six month period for whatever reasons

•       Fee Structure: As per instruction of the Department of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh Administration. Presently it is Rs.700/- per month plus Rs.500/- as security deposit (refundable) for doing internship or STA training.

•     The department has trained about one hundred twenty students till January, 2007.