the goan I network
MARGAO
The Curtorim unit of the Aam Aadmi Party led by South Goa General Secretary Roque Mascarenhas along with other Curtorim constituency volunteers descended on the Primary Health Centre, Curtorim, early Saturday morning to highlight the plight of the people visiting the centre for a blood test.
The AAP also stirred a hornet’s nest when the leaders claimed that blood testing is being carried out in a premise just 100 meters away from the Health Centre, further alleging that the people undergoing tests at the private facility later visit the centre for consultations as well as to avail free medicines.
Addressing the media, Roque said the hapless patients are issued token numbers from 7 am and the actual process of drawing blood starts at 9 am, forcing people to remain on empty stomach as late as 12 noon, exposing the pathetic state of the primary health care system in the State.
The volunteers submitted a memorandum signed by the elderly patients to the primary health officer with copies to the Director of Health Services, the Health Minister and the local MLA requesting the authorities to begin registration and blood sugar checks by 7 am.
Roque criticized the government for empty promises and wondered why the aam aadmi was made to suffer like this at a time when politicians are treated in super specialty hospitals in Mumbai and New York. “Learn from AAP government how health care has to be improved. Don’t be blind to the travails of the common man. You are not doing them a favour,” Roque said. He later met the medical attendants and observed that the primary health centre was not provided with adequate staff to meet the requirements.
AAP leader Sidharth Karapurkar expressed shock that the private blood testing facility was located 100 meters away from the health centre and demanded to know how patients who undergo tests at the facility can avail consultation as well as free medicines at the centre.
