Moscow hospitals overhaul menus as officials demand better patient meals

Moscow’s adult hospitals updated their menus in autumn 2024. New dishes such as frittata, risotto, and fruit salads were introduced. Valentina Matviyenko, Speaker of the Federation Council, has since spoken out about the quality of hospital food. The menu changes included 10 specialised meal plans. These were designed to suit different patient groups and their dietary needs.

Matviyenko stressed that hospital meals must be healthy, simple, and appetising. She made it clear that patients should never be served poor-quality food, calling it unacceptable. She also questioned how some hospitals were spending their budgets if meal standards remained low.

In her remarks, she described improving hospital food as a solvable problem. She called for strict oversight to ensure quality and proper use of funds. The updated menus aim to provide better nutrition for patients. Matviyenko’s comments highlight the importance of accountability in hospital food services. Her push for stricter controls may lead to further improvements in meal quality.