PANAJI
Following a delay of eight days, the government on Saturday launched Goa’s centralized Covid helpline 0832-2494545 and online portal on https://goaonline.gov.in/beds exclusively for relaying information pertaining to Covid bed availability at 27 government and private hospitals.
While making the announcement, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said that the hospital-specific helplines announced earlier, which include ESI Covid Hospital (2703036), South Goa District Hospital (2727300) and SDH, Ponda (7020973897), will continue to remain operational.
Unfortunately, both the helpline number as well as the online portal appear to be half-hearted initiatives with the crucial information being updated just once a day and at random times for each facility. With lives depending on the availability of not only beds but also ventilators, the absence of any information about the latter is causing heavy distress to Covid-19 patients.
