MARGAO: The government's decision to set up the third Covid hospital at the South Goa district hospital is now expected to take shape only after a week’s time, tentatively on September 19.
Having missed the September 11 deadline to set up the 250-COVID hospital at the South district hospital, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane on Saturday visited the district hospital to take stock of the situation.
After going into a huddle inside the district hospital with GMC Dean Shivanand Bandekar, Director of Health Services, Dr Geeta Kakodkar, Hospicio Medical superintendent Dr Deepa Corriea, ESI Medical Superintendent Dr Vishwajit Faldesai, doctors Sunanada Amonkar and Rajesh Patil, the Health Minister later told the media that the Covid hospital at the district hospital should start by next Saturday if everything falls in place.
“We will hold an inspection of the Covid facility at the district hospital next Friday, before taking the decision to start the operations”, he said, adding that certain issues relating to manpower, including doctors, nurses and data operators, additional security personnel etc. He, however, pointed out that the district hospital is equipped with 566 oxygen points which will be able to cater to the COVID patients admitted in the hospital.
“We will start the COVID facility in the district hospital in phases, beginning with 150 beds and gradually augmenting the bed capacity to 250 and more depending on the requirements”, he said, adding that the district hospital will have all facilities, including laboratory and testing facility.
“We will hold a meeting with all concerned on Friday before the new facility have a dry run”, he said, while saying that he has inspected the building today to find out the deficiencies in respect of doctors and manpower”, he said, adding that the government will develop the facility to run as a South Goa district hospital.
Saying that on one can predict a spike in Covid cases, Rane said the virus is being transmitted from family to family and when people carry the virus and infect all at home.
He pointed out that Goa is one state which is spending the most on Covid patients, the Health Minister the decision to provide for the patients under home isolation will not only help to provide the equipment to the patients, but is aimed at closely monitoring the health condition of the patients, even in the remotest corners of the state. “The objective of providing kits to the patients under home isolation is two-fold. One, they will get the oximeters, thermometers and other items, and these patients will also be monitored by the primary health officials”, he added.
Rane further said that the COVID facility at the South district hospital will have dedicated facility of two ambulances for the benefit of the patients.
