A ceiling fan came crashing down at the feet of a patient injuring her leg once again highlighting the sorry state of affairs at Hospicio, Margao. Fortunately, the lady escaped with minor injuries and was treated with pain-killers and other first-aid. Horrific incidents like these are only a reflection of the insecure conditions at Hospicio. The medical superintendent of the hospital promptly blames it on the pending sanction to carry out maintenance of fans and other electrical appliances. We live in a State where we continue to be in the process of reconciliation between passing the blame and an unresponsive system. We live in a state which talks big about healthcare, but yet cares less for human life.
The question now is, how long is Hospicio going to continue to take such risks, and at what cost? The pathetic condition of the age-old ailing hospital is well-known. Patients have had to suffer due to shortage of beds, poor sanitation and sometimes inhumane conditions. The absence of a full-fledged casualty ward makes it even worse. Leave aside the creaking fans that raise a scare all the time. There are several other areas at Hospicio which are indeed scary. Investing heavily at this stage in maintenance and upgrade at Hospicio could be a dilemma because the new South Goa District Hospital is nearing completion. But, can the government ignore such threats to life and wait endlessly till the actual shifting takes place?
The falling ceiling fan is another wake-up call for the government to expedite completion of the new hospital which has now stretched across eight long years. Perhaps, this could be the longest for any major project undertaken in recent times. While the State looks to take giant steps in healthcare in 2020 with a super-speciality block at GMC and Goa’s first private medical college, the inordinate delay in opening the South Goa District Hospital is baffling. The hospital is not only a necessity for the common man but also a lifeline for South Goa. It becomes all the more serious because Hospicio is unable to cater to the health needs of South Goa. Precious lives are at stake, and hence the issue cannot be treated so casually.
Financial crunch appears to be a major impediment for the new hospital, and contractors have been delaying work over non-payments. The over-a-dozen missed deadlines only suggest that all is not well at the new complex. It is learnt that the contractor operates on the fear that he may be unable to recover his dues running into crores of rupees if he goes ahead with completion. Has the budget thrown the government’s priorities haywire, or is that the will is not there? The picture reflects a clear case of misplaced priorities. The government which swears by the welfare of its people has to understand that this delay is affecting lives. It has to ensure that the new hospital is thrown open on a priority basis before something else at Hospicio comes crashing down.
