minister says stakeholders will be consulted before final decision
MARGAO
Asserting that the South Goa district hospital is eligible for a medical college in the institution, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane on Sunday said that he will take the stakeholders into confidence and will comply with the codal formalities before taking any decision on the medical college.
Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the mega health camp at Navelim on Sunday, the Health Minister said, “There’s a scheme under the Government of India headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, wherein medical colleges are attached to the district hospitals. I am of the firm opinion that there must be codal formalities complied with to take the proposal forward.”
He added: We have to take the stakeholders into confidence and make them understand what exactly is the model adopted by Niti Aayog. Under the scheme, the hospitals are not handed over to the private medical college. The government will run the hospital. But, we have to take the stakeholders into confidence, explain them in detail the concept before taking a call.”
He said the only advantage the medical college attached to the district hospital is that the hospital will get the facilities of doctors.
Speaking on the subject, the Health Minister said there’s now a trend wherein permissions are being given for deemed universities, with a provision to start their own medical colleges. “A university is coming up at Quepem, which has shown its intention to put up a medical college. We have a district hospital which can play host to a medical college,” he said.
Adopting a cautious path on the issue, the Health Minister said, “When we make statements, we need to sit together and ask Niti Aayog to give a detailed presentation to take the proposal forward. We need to take everyone on board. I have no personal interest in the medical college. I am only interested in the well- being of the people so that the benefits go to the citizens.”
