Govt to open ECCs, 108 ambulances in all PHCs

the goan I network
MAPUSA
Stating that the State government would do everything possible to save people’s lives, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane on Saturday said emergency care centres (ECC) would be opened at all health centres and 108 ambulance services would also be launched at all health centres in the State. 
“This government will do everything to improve the quality of healthcare. Just this morning, I moved a file to have emergency care centres in every PHC in the State. Every community health centre will have such a facility within the next six months. We will also ensure 108 ambulance service in every PHC in future,” Rane said. 
The health minister was speaking after launching the first emergency care centre in the State at the Aldona primary health centre in the presence of local MLA Glenn Ticlo.  
A dedicated Advance Life Support (ALS) ambulance with ventilators and automated external defibrillator (AED) was also launched on the occasion at the hands of Yvette Gonsalves, the mother of late Januz Gonsalves. 
The centre has been opened in memory of Januz Gonsalves, a youth of Aldona whose body was accidentally cremated in a major goof up by the GMC morgue. 
Continuing, the Health Minister said the government would take all steps and spend whatever money required to save precious lives of the people in the State. 
He said a Rs 100 crore regional cancer centre was being planned and a super specialty block was coming up next to the GMC.
He also said the foundation stone will be laid for the Rs 25 crore health centre in Candolim. 
The health minister gave credit to Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar for the achievements in the health sector in the State. 
“All this has been possible only because of our chief minister. Even when he was not well, not a single file has remained stuck. This has happened only because of CM’s blessings,” Rane said. 
The health minister said that emergency care centre was like a mini ICU. 
“Patients can be revived here and if he has cardiac issue it can be stabilized. Besides a ventilator and defibrillator, all medicines required for emergency care are also available here,” the Health Minister said. 
The cost of equipment in an emergency care centre is about Rs 10-12 lakh. The emergency room will be managed by GVK EMRI that operates the 108 ambulance service in the State. 
Expressing satisfaction at the launch of the ECC in Aldona, local MLA, Glenn Ticlo said initial treatment during emergency cases will be available here and if the patients need further treatment they will be then referred either to the district hospital or GMC. 
“This facility is of paramount importance to the village. I am very happy the health minister has offered this facility to Aldona PHC,” Ticlo said. 
Dean of GMC Dr Pradip Naik, Director of Health and Services Dr Sanjay Dalvi, Chief Medical Officer Dr Vandana Dhume, Aldona PHC Medical Officer Dr Manish Gaunekar, GVK MRI head, Pruthvi Patkar and other officials of GVK were
also present.