India, Feb. 17 -- Following complaints from patients and their relatives about poor food quality, compromised hygiene, and irregular meal timings, the Maharashtra public health department has ordered a comprehensive audit of food services in government hospitals across the Pune division, officials said on Monday.

Dr Bhagwan Pawar, deputy director of health services, said, "There have been complaints from patients and attendants that food quality varies widely across facilities, with some reporting delayed meals, poor taste, inadequate nutrition and unhygienic handling. For many patients from economically weaker backgrounds, hospital-provided food is often the only assured source of nutrition during their stay."

The deputy director of he...