PANAJI: Barely days after he returned from a lengthy spell of treatment for a serious pancreatic ailment, the Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar chaired a meeting of the Cabinet and presided over a decision to appoint Dr Anupama Borkar as an oncology consultant at the Goa Medical College and Hospital.
The CM said the appointment of Dr Borkar an oncology haematologist was a first step in setting up a full cancer unit at GMC on the lines of the cardiac unit.
“Dr Anupama Borkar has been appointed as oncology haematologist consultant. For cancer, a unit is being set up at GMC just as we set up a cardiology unit. Somewhere a start has to be made and she is a good senior consultant in a private hospital. We have taken her as a consultant,” Parrikar announced.
In his first press conference, Parrikar showed no difficulty and offered no comment about his health, although, none was specifically sought.
Nonetheless, his office staff had ensured that journalists were kept at a distance from the chief minister. The chief minister, however, asked that they be cleared, but requested that those journalists who may have “a cough or cold” would be advisable to stay some distance away from him as he could risk an infection.
The chief minister thanked journalists for being patient in his absence and said that he was constantly being briefed about the situation in Goa including reading newspapers.
“I was absolutely (sic), except some 10-15 days, in touch with the state for all decision making. Each decision was being delivered to me by email and I used to approve it from there. Each decision was being conveyed to the secretary. I had detailed news of what was happening in Goa. Even some op-ed articles and reporters opinions were being sent to me by email,” Parrikar said.
