The Aldona primary health centre should have been in the pink of health because it was recently renovated at a cost of Rs 2 crore. And what is it’s state today? The PHC is virtually paralysed because there is no water. Patients and staff have to fetch water from home or buy mineral water for consumption. The only patient admitted to the hospital has not had bath for the last five days. The medical officer at the PHC admitted that water supply was poor and erratic for the last five days, but added that the shortage was made good by supply through tankers. Sadly, water could not be pumped into the overhead tank because everyone fears it might collapse. That tank is in a dilapidated condition and requests have been made to the government to build a new one. The question is why was this work not undertaken along with the renovation work, which was completed a few months before the elections?
This is the problem with most government infrastructure. There are several government offices across the state, which are in a dilapidated condition. There have been reports of damp walls, leaking ceilings and broken windows in government offices with no one willing to maintain the same. Staff has to work in difficult situations and wait endlessly for the PWD or GSIDC to step in to undertake repairs. It was after many years that Margao got a swanky collectorate, but one wonders how long it will take for this imposing building to fall from grace.
The general approach of all governments is to build, build and build. Infrastructure is created at a high cost with no thought of maintenance costs. And when the time comes to undertake routine repairs there is no money for the same. There are numerous government schools which are not even fit to be labelled as cowsheds. Hospicio hospital has functioned in a building that should have been written off a long time ago. Agreed, a new hospital is taking shape on the outskirts of Margao, but will sufficient funds be allocated on an annual basis for maintenance? This is a cause for worry because the general trend in Goa is to build first and think about maintenance later.
Why does the private sector not face the same problem? It is because public hospitals are free which means the government has to spend on every facility and service provided to patients. Same is the case with government schools. In the private sector things work differently and competition ensures that the best of facilities are made available to patients or students. But this comes at a cost and until the government is able to separate those who deserve free medical treatment from those who can afford it, there will always be a shortage of funds for maintenance.
