Health Minister Vishwajit Rane speaks in the Assembly.
Photo Credits: Narayan Pissurlenkar
MAPUSA
Despite challenges in running government hospitals, Goa continues to provide some of the best healthcare facilities in the country, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane told the Goa Legislative Assembly on Monday.
He acknowledged difficulties in recruiting and retaining doctors but assured that the government is actively managing the situation.
Responding to concerns raised by the opposition about inadequate medical services in district hospitals, Rane stated that an ICU facility has already been started in South Goa, while the North Goa District Hospital’s ICU will be operational “very soon.”
“It’s a challenge to run hospitals. Sometimes, it is difficult to retain doctors,” Rane admitted.
However, he emphasised that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has been providing financial support to strengthen the healthcare system.
“I understand that everyone wants the best facilities, but improvements cannot happen overnight. We are working to address gaps wherever necessary,” he added.
Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao, while raising concerns over the lack of facilities and doctors, accused the government of failing to meet Goa’s healthcare needs.
“Health in Goa is a classic case of an overdose of hardware literally crying for software. There is a shortage of everything – staff, doctors, nurses, technicians, ambulances, medicines, beds and even bedsheets,” Alemao remarked.
He further pointed out the lack of emergency medical services in district hospitals, stating that the absence of a Cath lab and an MRI machine in South Goa District Hospital and the unavailability of ICU and critical care units in North Goa District Hospital were major shortcomings.
According to the Health Minister’s written reply in the Assembly, 56 percent of patients referred to Goa Medical College (GMC) and other hospitals were due to a lack of facilities in district and sub-district hospitals.
Of the 1,80,256 referrals made from various Community Health Centres (CHCs) and Primary Health Centres (PHCs) across the state in the last five years, 1,00,872 patients were directed to GMC.
To address the shortage of specialists, Rane announced that the government has signed an MoU with Apollo Victor Hospital to provide super-specialist services at South Goa District Hospital.
“Currently, a nephrologist from Apollo Victor Hospital attends the OPD once a week, while a cardiologist from GMC is deputed to SGDH weekly,” he said.
Additionally, the State has implemented the TEMI project in collaboration with TRICOG to ensure critical ECG evaluations. Patients requiring urgent care are thrombolyzed and referred to GMC as needed.
To reduce referrals from North Goa District Hospital to GMC, Rane said the government is conducting monthly audit referrals and working on improving ICU infrastructure. Recruitment of additional healthcare personnel is also underway.
A partnership with Radiance Diagnostics, Mapusa, for emergency CT scans is pending government approval, while the procurement of a new CT scan machine is in process through the Directorate of Health.
With the government facing mounting pressure from the opposition and the public, it remains to be seen how soon these promised improvements will take effect.
