PANAJI: Health Minister Vishwajit Rane on Saturday announced a slew of initiatives to overhaul the State’s healthcare sector including adopting the NITI Ayog approved modules for privatising existing State-owned infrastructure through the Public-Private Participation mode.
“We will be adopting the PPP model to raise the standards in Goan hospitals with new expertise,” Rane said, indicating that certain super-specialities in the Goa Medical College and Hospital at Bambolim could also go into private hands.
Rane claimed that the measures being envisaged with private collaboration will propel Goa Medical College and Hospital to be rated among the country’s top 15 healthcare institutions.
He said, a separate block at the GMC will be built exclusively for mother and child healthcare.
“The Centre has already sanctioned Rs 50 crore for the Mother and Child block at the GMC Hospital. We have been told by Union Health Ministry to utilize these funds in the current financial year itself,” Rane said.
The Health Minister said the new super-speciality block at the GMC is almost ready and that the government is mulling bringing a private player on board to operate some of the facilities there.
“We are considering bringing in a private player to boost efficiency and expertise. Some departments will be
outsourced with state-of-art facilities and infrastructure,” Rane said.
Meanwhile noting the alarming rise in cancer cases, Rane said, he had assured the Goa legislative assembly in the recently concluded monsoon session that he would make a concerted effort so that the health department tackles the problem.
“A total of 1.5 lakh women will be screened annually for breast and cervical cancer,” Rane said, adding that the government will enter into an MoU with Ibreast, the startup which uses an innovative gadget for the diagnostic procedure.
Meanwhile, the Chicalim Cottage Hospital could also land in private hands, with Rane saying that a move to get on board a consortium of Goan doctors is under the government’s consideration. He however said that the projects being proposed by the health department for Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode will adopt the approved modules suggested by the Niti Ayog.
“The ultimate responsibility will be of the State government. All the important positions in the privately run facilities will be held by government doctors,” Rane said, adding that partnering with private sector was inevitable as no government had the financial resources required to be invested. PPP model to be adopted to raise standards in Goan hospitals with new expertise
Certain super-specialities in GMC likely to be privatised
Measures being envisaged with private collaboration to propel GMC among country’s top 15 healthcare institutions
Separate block at GMC to be built exclusively for mother and child healthcare
1.5 lakh women to be screened annually for breast and cervical cancer; Govt to enter into MoU with Ibreast
Chicalim Cottage Hospital may also land into private hands
All important positions in privately run facilities to be held by government doctors
