MARGAO
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant is believed to have ruled out reopening of the NUSI hospital at Cuncolim for Covid patients for want of proper maintenance of the hospital and the cost involved in the renovation work.
But, with Covid cases on the rise in Cuncolim, questions are being raised whether the government can arrange a Covid bed facility in the Municipal area itself on the lines of the Cansaulim Primary Health Centre, which has been now designated as a Covid hospital.
Cuncolim MLA Clafacio Dias, who had a discussion with the Chief Minister on Thursday, said the Chief Minister has ruled out roping in the NUSI hospital given the issue of maintenance.
He, however, said he is open to discussing with the Chief Minister whether any facility can be set in the Cuncolim Municipal area since people from the municipal area find difficulty in getting beds at the government-run hospitals in Margao. “We have to understand that building itself will not help in starting facility or hospital in Cuncolim We have to take care of the manpower, including doctors and nurses to man the facility”, the MLA said, while saying that he would certainly discuss the matter with the Chief Minister.
Former Cuncolim Municipal Chairperson and Councilor PolitaCarneiro has said that if the government cannot utilise the NUSI hospital, the government should immediately put to use the commercial building, which was inaugurated by the Chief Minister to set up the Covid facility. “Let the authorities explore the possibility of converting the commercial building into a Covid facility. The situation in Cuncolim is indeed serious, with many families infected by coronavirus and people not getting beds in the government and private hospitals in Margao”, Polita said, while making a plea to the government to consider setting up a Covid care or hospital facility in Cuncolim.
