Major overhaul on cards for ESI Hospital as govt panel chief flags gaps

Chairman of the government-constituted panel, Dr Chandrakant Shetye, inspects the ESI hospital, Margao on Wednesday.

Photo Credits: Santosh Mirajkar

MARGAO
On a mission to put the Margao ESI Hospital back on its tracks, Chairman of the government-constituted panel, MLA Dr Chandrakant Shetye, on Wednesday saw for himself the state of affairs and the issues plaguing the 100-bedded hospital.

After taking a round of the hospital and interacting with the doctors and staff, Dr Shetye told the media that all isn’t well with the ESI Hospital and mulled a host of changes to revive the hospital for the benefit of employees and the working class. He informed that he would submit a report to the Labour Minister Atanasio Monserrate with recommendations to bring about changes in the hospital.

Underscoring the need to tone up the hospital infrastructure, including the appointment of consultants, Dr Shetye said the task before the panel and the government is to see that over two lakh employees and their families avail themselves of medical services at the ESI Hospital. “To bring the employees back to the hospital, we have to make a whole lot of changes. We need to put a stop to the current practice of employees visiting government hospitals and then seeking reimbursement of bills. Employees will be allowed to avail themselves of services at the government hospitals only if the ESI consultant gives in writing that a particular service is not available,” he added.

Calling for a full-fledged Medical Superintendent to head the ESI Hospital, Dr Shetye said he would make a case for the appointment of additional consultants. “When patients are referred to the ESI Hospital by medical officers at the ESI dispensaries, they need to be attended to by consultants. Otherwise, no patient will come to the ESI,” he said.

He added: “We will aim to provide basic facilities such as lab, X-ray, ECG, etc., round the clock. We have to install air conditioners in the Operation Theatres. The hospital is facing multiple issues. If we provide them with good treatment, the hospital will then become fully operational.”

Dr Shetye has mulled coordination between the staff attached to different sections, saying that medicines with long expiry dates need to be procured for the benefit of the patients. “Medicines are not a big issue because there is a budget. In my report, I will recommend fixing responsibility on each staff member so that the patients do not suffer due to lapses,” he added.