The 500-bedded super specialty ward in the Goa Medical College (GMC) and launching of the much awaited universal insurance scheme will be the health department’s priorities in the coming budget session.
PANAJI
Making the announcement, Health Minister and Deputy Chief Minister Francis D’Souza said with the Centre sanctioning Rs 120 crore for the speciality ward, the entire project would cost a total of Rs 450 crore.
“The cost for the 500-bedded super specialty ward will be Rs 450 crore; Rs 120 crore of which the centre has sanctioned. The ward will have a total of 11 super specialties. Three new additions will pertain to liver, oncology and endocrinology,” he said adding that Rs 30 crore would be used to develop the oncology dept.
Speaking at an event celebrating World Kidney Day, D’Souza also said the long awaited universal insurance scheme will be implemented after the budget session at the forthcoming legislative assembly.
Admitting that there were issues with private insurance companies, D’Souza said the government would be focusing on public insurance companies to implement the Deen Dayal Swasthya Sewa Yojana.
“The scheme will be operational this year, after the completion of the Budget session. It is a huge practice which will cover the entire population and will take time with making the cards and other details. We therefore have to be very careful,” said D’Souza.
He had earlier in the week, mentioned the State would be in a position to recover money from free services offered at the GMC with the implementation of the insurance scheme. He had said the scheme would include private as well as government hospitals.
D’Souza also called the scheme as being a flagship program, a first of its kind to be launched in the state.
