MAPUSA
In a significant development aimed at enhancing healthcare services, Dr Rupa Naik, the Acting Director of Health, has announced that the North Goa District Hospital in Mapusa will soon acquire a new CT scan machine.
This addition is set to complement the ongoing efforts to repair the existing, non-functional CT scan machine at the hospital. Dr Naik elaborated on the situation, noting that the procedure to replace a crucial and expensive part of the old CT scan machine had been delayed due to the ongoing code of conduct.
"A very crucial and expensive part of the CT scan machine has to be replaced, for which a request for approval has been placed before the government. Once it is repaired, the scans will be conducted in the district hospital," she stated.
Highlighting the prolonged service of the current CT scan machine, Dr Naik underscored the necessity for new equipment.
"We are also planning to purchase a new CT scan machine through corporate social responsibility (CSR) activity," she said, indicating that the acquisition would not only modernise the hospital’s diagnostic capabilities but also relieve the strain on existing resources.
For several months, the out-of-order CT scan machine has posed a significant inconvenience to patients at the Mapusa hospital, forcing them to travel to the Goa Medical College and Hospital in Bambolim for routine scans. This situation has been exacerbated by the machine's recurrent malfunctions in the past, causing repeated disruptions in service.
The district hospital’s challenges extend beyond the CT scan machine.
It is also grappling with a shortage of ambulances, as one of its two ambulances has been out of service for an extended period.
Dr Naik addressed this issue, noting that the hospital has been operating with a single ambulance. "Whenever necessary, in emergency cases, the ambulance of 108 is used to transport patients," she said, referring to the State’s emergency medical services.
