MAPUSA
Seeking to dispel doubts regarding the State government s universal mediclaim scheme, Deputy Chief Minister and Health Minister Francis D Souza on Friday said that the scheme was not formulated for the benefit of any private or government hospital, rather it is aimed at every Goan in the State. He also suspected an ulterior motive among the private hospitals, which did not want the Goa Medical College and Hospital to run well, while stressing on the need to protect all government-run hospitals. “The Deen Dayal Savasthya Seva Yojana has not been tailor-made for the benefit of any private or government hospital, but has been unveiled keeping in mind the welfare of every Goan,” D Souza said. The Deputy Chief Minister was speaking after opening a centre for the Deen Day al Savasthya Seva Yojana at North Goa District Hospital in the presence of Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar and two other Bardez MLAs. The Health Minister said the government had launched the mediclaim scheme with an intention to help Goans, and not with an aim to earn revenue for GMC. “It s in the interest of private hospitals that Goa Medical College and Hospital does function well. But we must ensure that all government hospitals - GMC, Hospicio, Asilo and ID Hospital - are protected,” he said. Lashing out at detractors, he pointed out that the scheme may have some limitations, which could be looked into and corrected later. “Every new venture has teething problems. This scheme may also have some problems which can be looked into and ironed out,” he said. Aiming another salvo at critics, he said there was a sustained campaign to give a political spin to the government s unique mediclaim venture since it was launched in the election year. Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar said the State government s mediclaim scheme was a unique venture in the health sector in India. “The mediclaim scheme will benefit every section of the society in Goa,” he said, and called upon people to fill the forms and register themselves at the centre for the scheme.
It s a paper tiger : Cong Continued from P1subsidies to avail healthcare facilities in private hospitals. He said that owing to the low limits set by the government on different procedures, no private hospitals will want to participate in it. “It is a retrograde scheme. The government should not place a limit on the costs of procedures,” Faleiro stated, adding that the government should spend the money instead in improving GMC and other government-run healthcare institutions.
