MARGAO
Government’s decision to rope in Mumbai-based Ms Apex Kidney Care Pvt. Ltd to start a dialysis centre at the South Goa district hospital has been challenged in the Supreme Court by Dr Venkatesh Reddy, who is presently running a dialysis centre at the Hospicio hospital.
In fact, the petition seeking stay on the order issued by the Director of Health Services appointing Ms Apex Kidney Care Pvt. Ltd will come up for hearing before a Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice of India.
After The Goan carried a story on the government’s plan to rope in the Mumbai-based Ms Apex Kidney care to start dialysis centre at the South Goa district hospital, Dr Venkatesh informed that he has challenged the government’s order in the Supreme Court and the matter is coming up for hearing on October 8.
He sought to know why the government and the agency are in a hurry to start the dialysis centre at the South Goa district hospital when the Supreme Court is scheduled to hearing his application for stay on the order on October 8.
Dr Venkatesh demanded to know how the government can bring in a new agency when his contract with the Goa government to run dialysis unit at Hospicio and at the Canacona Health centre has not yet been terminated. “For the last 16 years, I have been running the dialysis centres at Hospicio and Canacona, catering to the needs of the people. I fail to understand why the government has suddenly thought of bringing a new agency in the hospital where I have been giving services since 2004”, he said.
Dr Venkatesh pointed out that he is ready to move into the South Goa district hospital within 24 hours with all his 23 dialysis machines if the government tells him to do so. “Right now, I am treating around 80 patients both at Hospicio and Canacona Health centre”, he said, adding “why is the government acting in haste to rope in the Ms Apex Kidney Care Pvt. Ltd at the district hospital when I am ready and willing to set up my centre in the hospital”.
To a question, Dr Venkatesh asserted that he will fight to the last if any attempt is made to displace him from the Hospicio and the Canacona centre, pointing out that he had purchased the dialysis machines after obtaining bank loans.
Under Secretary (Health) Swati A Dalvi had on July 24 last had written a letter to the Director of Health Services dated July 24 granting approval for Ms Apex Kidney Care Pvt. Ltd to set up dialysis centres at the South Goa district hospital, Cancaona Health centres, besides Dharbandora and Bicholim @ 996 per cycle cost of hemodialysis.
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What’s the hurry: Dr Venkatesh
*For the last 16 years, I have been running dialysis centres at Hospicio and Canacona
*I am ready to move into South Goa district hospital within 24 hours with all 23 dialysis machines if the government tells me
*Right now, I am treating around 80 patients both at Hospicio and Canacona Health centre
