MARGAO
Out Patient Departments (OPDs) returned to Hospicio hospital on Friday along with the male and female medicine patients and as predicted day one brought to the fore the same old issue of space constraint.
The South Goa district hospital, however, could not play host to any Covid patient on Friday as per the deadline set by the government. Health Minister Vishwajit Rane is expected to pay a visit to the district hospital on Saturday to take stock of the things at the hospital.
Unlike the spacious district hospital’s ground floor, which was playing host to the OPDs for over three months now, patients lined up at Hospicio in the congested environment of the over 150-year old hospital. There were complaints from a group of patients, who had come for blood-sugar test, that though they came at 6 am, but were entertained only at 10 am.
One of the reasons for the delay in service was the strict adherence to the social-distancing norm. In fact, patients had to be reminded time and again to maintain social distancing.
While the male and female medicine patients were shifted to Hospicio after noon, doctors in the know pointed out that male and female medicine wards will not play host to the same number of beds now.
“We are faced with the space constraints in Hospicio. The male and female wards may not accommodate the same number of patients because of the adherence to social distancing norm,” a doctor told The Goan.
Speaking on the complaints of patients who had come for blood sugar test, doctors admitted that there may be teething problems for the next few days since the OPDs have been shifted back.
