CANACONA
Amidst conflicting priorities and governmental shortcomings, locals voiced vehement opposition to the fraudulent operations at Canacona Community Health Centre, regarding health services, including ambulance services.
CHC is equipped with 5 drivers and at least two working ambulances (including a recently inaugurated one) but presently do not operate any ambulance or any other vehicles of CHC.
The doctors on duty utilize 108 ambulance facilities to transport emergency cases to Margao while the staff engages a rental car for their movements to various sub-centres and for other official matters.
It is alleged that out of 5 drivers, only two report for duties and after conniving with the security, disappear. The remaining three do not even report for duty. Despite this, no corrective measures are initiated by the authorities putting patients to severe inconveniences.
According to sources, a working ambulance is reportedly made road unworthy deliberately and is kept parked in the hospital garage. A new ambulance allotted to CHC, is also kept unused for the past 25 days.
Whenever, a doctor on duty calls for a driver to shift the patient to Margao, the driver if any by chance is found on duty quickly informs the doctor that the vehicle is under breakdown, and the doctor in turn requests the services of 108 ambulances.
Activist Vikas Bhagat said this has been happening on a regular basis and while 108 ambulances are on Margao trips, locally it becomes unavailable whenever an emergency comes up.
Bhagat claimed a sinister plan is going on in CHC, where drivers are getting salaries without any services, while the government pays 108 ambulances for their trips.
The new ambulance was inaugurated by Canacona MLA Ramesh Tawadkar on March 13, but is still not put to use.
Justifying the use of 108 ambulance service and hiring rented car for official matters, Health Officer Dr Jose Tavares says the registration of this new ambulance is under process and hence it cannot be put to use and the other ambulance is under breakdown.
Demanding disciplinary action against erring drivers, residents have threatened to launch an agitation if the situation is not rectified.
Bhagat has petitioned Tavares and Tawadkar to act immediately and has also demanded that Health Minister Vishwajit Rane pay attention and take disciplinary action.
He has warned that if the issue is not resolved or CHC is not put in order in the next 4 days, the people will be forced to hit the road.
