Published Jul 09, 2025 | 11:43 AM ⚊ Updated Jul 09, 2025 | 11:43 AM
Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar. (Vice President's Secretariat/Wikimedia Commons)
Synopsis: In an unusual move, the Ernakulam District Medical Office deputed three doctors to test the quality of the food served to Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankar, sparking a controversy.
The Kerala Health Department has sparked a controversy after deputing three medical doctors as “food testing” officers during Indian Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankar’s two-day visit to the state on 6 and 7 July.
Though doctors are assigned VVIP duties as part of medical teams, the department decided to have food testing officers as well.
The directive, issued by the District Medical Office in Ernakulam, surprised the Kerala Government Medical Officers’ Association (KGMOA), a service organisation of government doctors.
Expressing strong displeasure over the department’s decision, the KGMOA said practising doctors were neither trained nor qualified to test food. It was the responsibility of the food safety department.
KGMOA denied reports that the doctors stayed away from performing the assigned task. “The doctors pointed out the procedural error as soon as the order arrived. However, they did not boycott duty and carried out food certification alongside Food Safety officers,” Dr Sunil PK, state president of KGMOA, told South First.
The doctors were asked to check the quality of food served to the vice-president at the Cochin International Airport, and the Aluva and Ernakulam guest houses.
Dr Sunil added that the association would soon submit a formal representation to the state government, seeking clarity and an end to such practices.
Interestingly, this was not the first instance — similar orders were issued during past VIP visits in Kerala and in other states as well, drawing objections from doctors each time.
The association maintains that medical officers should not be tasked with responsibilities beyond their professional scope and will urge the government to issue clear guidelines to prevent a repeat of such incidents.
