MAPUSA
With an aim to decentralise Covid treatment to reduce the pressure on the Goa Medical College and Hospital, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Thursday said the government will take steps to start an ICU facility in the North Goa District Hospital at the earliest and open more step up hospitals.
“We have to decentralise the Covid treatment which will benefit the people and reduce the load at GMC. I have asked health authorities to set up an ICU facility at the Mapusa district hospital at the earliest to decrease the stress on GMC for Covid treatment,” Sawant said.
The chief minister was speaking to the media during a routine inspection to review the functioning of the North Goa District Hospital in Mapusa.
Mapusa MLA Joshua D’Souza, Medical Superintendent Dr Mohandas Pednekar and nodal officer Dr Sunanda Amonkar were also present.
Continuing, Sawant said all hospitals in the State will have to be upgraded so that patients do not pile up at the State’s premier hospital in Bambolim.
“We have set up Step-Up hospitals in Bicholim and Pernem. Those patients who have co-morbidities should be immediately admitted in these hospitals so that they don’t rush to Bambolim,” he said.
More than 150 patients with Covid infection have been admitted to the North Goa District Hospital. Almost all the patients are on oxygen but at a low level.
He maintained that a lot of people were still not going for testing and many rushed to the hospital at the last minute when the situation turned critical.
NO REPLIES
The chief minister remained mum when questioned about the oxygen level dropping in Ward 142 of the GMC on Wednesday night.
He also refused to comment on the State BJP President’s attempt to bring about a rapprochement between him and his cabinet colleague Health Minister Vishawajit Rane.
