MARGAO
Asserting that the future of Goan healthcare is a big question mark, Congress MLA Reginaldo Lourenco called for modifications in the DDSSY scheme by introducing an income criteria and stop private hospitals from charging extra money to beneficiaries.
He further suggested that the Goa Medical College sanction treatment outside the government hospitals for those availing services in private empanelled hospitals.
Addressing the media, the three-time Congress MLA said the BJP government has become insensitive to the basic social needs, including health and education, of Goemkars. “I demand that the government introduce an income criterion in the scheme; keep the creamy layer out and allow GMC to sanction treatment outside government hospitals for those availing services in private empanelled hospitals,” he said.
He pointed out that the government has decided to take the onus of running the scheme on itself as it
has not been able to get an alternative player to run it. “The private hospitals are abusing the scheme, the public healthcare in Goa is suffering, the teaching of our future doctors is suffering at the Goa Medical College and therefore the future of Goan healthcare is a big question mark,” he said.
He said the government headed by the Congress was responsible for starting two health insurance schemes for the people launched under the leadership of late Dr Wilfred de Souza and under the leadership of the present health minister Vishwajit Rane.
“These schemes were aimed at people in the lower socio-economic sections of society, basically for the services not available in the Goa Medical College and other government hospitals. Income was the criterion. A letter of referral from the government hospital, especially the Goa Medical College, had to be issued to avail services in the private sector,” he said, adding that the patient paid no charges for availing the scheme.
