the goan I network
PANAJI
The Goa government has decided to crackdown on the hotel and food industry to make health checks for all staff mandatory by law.
A decision to this effect was taken at the last cabinet meeting wherein Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar issued instructions to the administration to be ready to launch this massive operation soon.
A law dealing with the matter will be enacted in the forthcoming session of the Goa legislative assembly in July, official sources said, adding that Parrikar has directed the bureaucracy to also study if the rules under the relevant laws also need to be tweaked and notified.
Goa has thousands of such establishments including hotels, restaurants and eateries operating from homes to cater to the demand from tourists as well as working people.
Outlets including chat stalls and those serving street food besides fast-food joints will also be brought under the umbrella of the law.
The hand of the government has been forced on the issue because of several food related incidents which had triggered health scares.
A couple of months ago, the Food and Drugs Administration had found the canteens at the Goa Medical College and Hospital, Bambolim and the Kala Academy in Campal, Panaji, to be pathetically run. The three canteens operating at the GMC were immediately ordered to be shut down by the FDA.
In addition to hygiene, the new thinking in the government is to focus attention also on personnel serving in the food industry. If found to be suffering from certain communicable diseases, these personnel will be barred from working until such time as a fresh medical examination proves their fitness.
Meanwhile, the government is also moving to make such health checks mandatory for personnel including paramedics and housekeeping staff working in hospitals, and other health and wellness service providers.
Being enacted in the forthcoming session of the Goa legislative assembly in July
WHO’LL BE COVERED
All establishments including hotels, restaurants and eateries operating from homes
Outlets including chat stalls and those serving street food besides fast-food joints
WHY THIS LAW
The hand of the government has been forced on the issue because of several food related incidents which had triggered health scares
PERSONAL HYGIENE
An ill worker will be barred from serving food until such time as a fresh medical examination proves his fitness
