Mallika Dua recently shared a hospital experience on social media that sparked a debate over dietary choices and food policies at healthcare facilities. On September 17, the actor-comedian posted a picture of herself from a hospital bed and recalled asking for paya soup during an earlier visit to Hinduja Hospital, only to be offered dal soup because the facility did not serve non-vegetarian food.Her comments drew mixed reactions online, with some users supporting her concerns about food choices for patients, while others defended vegetarian menus and questioned the expectation that hospitals should serve non-vegetarian meals.
Mallika Dua recalls hospital food incident
Sharing her experience on Instagram, Mallika questioned the concept of vegetarian hospitals and compared the two types of soup.She wrote, “Also, WTF is a ‘vegetarian hospital’. Completely ridiculous and irresponsible concept. I remember asking about paya soup at Hinduja Hospital once, only to be offered dal ka soup because we are a vegetarian hospital. As if there’s any nutritional comparison between dal ka soup and paya soup.”The actor-comedian subsequently brought up Fortis while continuing to question the practice of vegetarian-only food policies at hospitals.
Mallika Dua questions vegetarian food policies
Mallika wrote, “How can you be a hospital and a vegetarian? Even Fortis. It’s not a restaurant that you run based on religious sentiments. It’s not a hospital for cattle. And dal soup is curing nobody of anything.”She also shifted the discussion towards how patients are treated by medical professionals, adding, “If only all this performative sensitivity were channelled towards bedside manners in doctors.”Her comments subsequently prompted a discussion online about hospital menus, dietary preferences and whether healthcare facilities should be expected to provide both vegetarian and non-vegetarian options.
Mallika Dua’s remarks spark online debate
While some social media users agreed with Mallika’s concerns about food choices for patients, others pushed back against her comments and defended vegetarian food options.One user wrote, “Scientifically, plant based diet is the healthiest diet, but people are not ready for this conversation…”Another commented, “Please leave ur dietary preferences at home … the world is not concerned with how much you prefer killing animals for ur recovery & aspect the same from others.”Some users also pointed out that vegetarianism is not necessarily linked to religion and can instead be based on personal, cultural or ethical choices.One person responded sarcastically to the debate, writing, “whoa an institution where people go for their health is serving you food meant to fuel that? that’s crazy.”
Mallika Dua clarifies her comments
Mallika later clarified that her observations were not intended as a blanket criticism of doctors. She acknowledged that even well-regarded hospitals can have shortcomings when it comes to food options and bedside manner, while also noting that many doctors provide compassionate care.She wrote, “There is a lack of non-vegetarian food and bedside manners in the best of hospitals. There are also incredible doctors who understand that healing and care are as important as treatment, and their speech and bedside manners reflect that. Contradictions can and do exist.”The actor-comedian also defended her decision to speak about her experience as a patient.“As a patient, I have the right to voice these observations. You don’t live in my body or pay my bills,” she wrote.Mallika further revealed that she was undergoing an iron infusion and added, “Bass ek baar meri iron infusion complete ho jaye I will be invincible (Once my iron infusion is complete, I will be invincible). What is a vegetarian hospital? I thought education mattered in medicine.”
About Mallika Dua
Mallika Dua is known for her work as a comedian, actor and writer. She gained wider recognition through the viral video ‘Shit People Say: Sarojini Nagar Edition’, which she wrote, styled and performed herself. She is the daughter of veteran journalist and Padma Shri recipient Vinod Dua.
