Health Minister Vishwajit Rane’s announcements in Margao on the sidelines of the launch of Pradhan Mantra Jan Aushadhi Kendra at the South Goa District Hospital came as a whiff of fresh air that seems to have cleared a lot of uncertainties hovering over the health space down south.
Top on the list was an assurance to put in place the Intensive Care Unit and other facilities on track in a time-bound manner while also stating that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has assured to sanction necessary staff and experts. Rane disclosed that he would file a detailed affidavit in the High Court when the PIL filed by Goa Forward chief Vijai Sardesai comes up for hearing.
Another decision that rekindled hope was about the long forgotten ‘world-class’ food testing laboratory at Margao, with the minister stating that he will ask the SGPDA to provide land for the project, while also emphasising that the fish imported to Goa is undergoing necessary checks. The third significant announcement was of setting up a nursing college on the top two floors of the South Goa District Hospital, putting to rest the controversy of inviting a private medical college to set shop.
While the health minister sounded positive about putting the facilities at the premier South Goa hospital on track, we are reminded of an office memorandum issued by Under Secretary Finance dated December 21 issuing a series of directions for rationalisation of expenditure in a bid to curb expenditure. The office memo has banned the creation of new posts in all departments, autonomous bodies and corporations of the government, and departments are directed to bring into effect a 25 per cent cut in budgetary revenue expenditure which includes payment of salaries and pensions. That’s not all. The note also puts on hold all purchases.
Against this background, it would be interesting to know how the government would proceed with giving the much needed life-support to the South District Hospital and how realistic the time horizon could be. Since the Finance portfolio is with the CM, it would do a world of good to those waiting in hope if Sawant seconds the categoric mention of Rane.
Nonetheless, while citizens look forward to the ICU and other specialised facilities at the Margao hospital, one wonders why the government did not take cognisance of these pressing health requirements and why it invited the wrath of those who began labelling it “referral hospital” and “a hospital on ventilator”.
Another pertinent question that emerges is whether citizens or politicians need to knock on the doors of the courts to plead for health services? And do we get a resolution only if the court is moved? The government of the day may be facing some serious logistical and expertise issues, but that cannot be a constant when people look forward to the south district hospital as the last resort in that part of the State, and for whom GMC is out of bounds in emergencies and private hospitals are unaffordable.
Rane must be commended for the reforms in the Health sector, and the plans he has unveiled for the south district hospital are testimony of his unwavering commitment to healthcare in the State. We hope that the South Goa District Hospital will soon stand tall and erase the bad name it has earned for itself over the past few years.
