VASCO
Health Minister Vishwajit Rane on Saturday admitted that availability of specialists remains a challenge but said multiple steps are being taken to overcome the shortage, including plans for a pay hike to attract doctors to join government service.
Rane was speaking to reporters after inaugurating a wellness centre in Vasco in the presence of Vasco MLA Krishna Salkar, Mormugao Municipal Council Chairperson Girish Borker and other dignitaries.
“It is not always easy (to get medical specialists), but we have moved fresh proposals. Wherever doctors are available, we will bring them on board. Whether they are local doctors or doctors from neighbouring states, we are trying to rope them in,” said Rane.
“We have also decided to increase the pay scale for doctors willing to join government service in different specialities so that we can introduce more specialised departments at the Chicalim Sub-District Hospital,” he said.
The health minister also admitted that the Chicalim Sub-District Hospital requires urgent upgradation in terms of specialist doctors, manpower and support staff to ensure that people across Mormugao taluka receive comprehensive healthcare services closer to home.
“Chicalim sub-district hospital needs to be upgraded in terms of doctors, staff, manpower and medical specialities so that people from the entire Mormugao taluka get maximum benefit. MLAs and ministers from this taluka have consistently demanded additional staff and more specialist doctors, and we are trying our best to make this available,” Rane said.
Speaking about the newly inaugurated wellness centre, Rane said the initiative is aimed at reducing pressure on health centres and hospitals by providing basic diagnostics and medicines at the local level.
He assured that medicine supply at the wellness centre would be adequate and uninterrupted. Highlighting the facilities, the minister said the centre has been equipped with ECG machines and blood diagnostic systems.
Vasco MLA Krishna Salkar welcomed the initiative and said strengthening healthcare infrastructure in the constituency has been a long-standing demand.
