MARGAO
Goa Forward chief Vijai Sardesai on Monday made it very clear that Goa Forward party opposes any move by the government to start a private medical college plan to privatise the South Goa District Hospital.
He also urged the government to monitor both the South Goa district hospital as well as the sub-district hospital, Ponda with a task force to ensure they become full-fledged hospitals that provide all facilities to the citizens of the State.
Sardesai reminded that he had raised several issues that people face at the South Goa District Hospital (SGDH) and Sub-District Hospital (SDH) Ponda, in a detailed letter to the Chief Secretary of Goa. These issues were previously raised during the Legislative Assembly session in March 2023, and he hopes that they will be urgently attended to, and resolved at the earliest.
“The issues raised for the South Goa District Hospital include the under-utilisation of the two floors. I have asked to make these floors accessible to patients, and make all the 500 beds available. Despite the availability of essential equipment, more than 10% of patients are still being referred to the Goa Medical College (GMC) for treatment. Moreover, there is no orthopaedic consultant, neurologist, or cardiologist available to treat patients suffering from related ailments,” he said.
Saying that some implants required for orthopaedic surgery are also unavailable at SGDH, for which the government must take urgent steps to provide, along with other essential items required for medical procedures, Sardesai said the hospital requires a Cardiac Centre, a 24x7 pharmacy, and a blood bank within the hospital premises.
He said the Sub-District Hospital in Ponda also requires more facilities and personnel to meet the growing demand. “It needs another radiologist, consultant for ophthalmic OPD, a fully functional blood bank, a CT scan, neurologist, an X-ray operator for emergency cases, and equipment to treat trauma cases. All medicines required for diabetic and heart surgery patients must be made available daily,” he added.
