GUILHERME ALMEIDA
MARGAO
Have an orthopedic issue to be resolved at the Hospicio hospital? Don’t be surprised if you are asked to choose an option “ either to procure the implant and enjoy free treatment or just referred to the Goa Medical College and hospital, Bambolim and avail a free implant and free treatment.
In fact, orthopedic patients from Salcete and down South have been confronted with this problem when it comes to implants when they step into the Hospicio hospital in recent times. And, the reason is simple: The agency supplying the implants to Hospicio has for the moment discontinued the supply of implants to the hospital, presumably over the issue of payments.
The situation has left the Hospicio authorities with no option than to ask the patients to foot the bill of the implants and avail free treatment at Hospicio itself or get the free treatment and the implants at the GMC, Bambolim.
When The Goan contacted Hospicio Medical Superintendent, Dr Ira Almeida to throw light on allegations that patients are forced to cough up money to buy implants, she attributed the situation to the disruption of the supply of implants by the agency.
“Since the issue has arisen over the supply of implants, we request the patients to either procure the implants at their cost and take free treatment or go to the GMC and avail the free implants as well as the treatment,” she said.
The Goan understands that it’s now over two months since Hospicio has been hit by an implant shortage, leaving accident patients in the lurch. Questions are being raised as to why the government has not made alternate arrangements by supplying the implants. In fact, a patient demanded to know why Hospicio cannot get the implants when the GMC has a regular supply of the implants.
“If patients at GMC can avail of the free implants, why is the same facility not extended to Hospicio. Let the government resolve its payment dispute with the agency, but at least, the authorities ought to have made alternate arrangements in the interest of the patients,” remarked a patient.
Hospicio is fortunate to have as many as four orthopedic doctors, but the implant shortage has hit operations in the last two months.
Says a doctor attached to Hospicio: “We give two options to the patients, to either procure the implants on their own and get the treatment free of cost or do the surgery at the GMC, Bambolim. It is for the patients to take a call whether to buy the implant or go to the GMC. Not all orthopedic patients require an implant and those in need are being given the option.”
Implants cost anything in the range between Rs 5000 to Rs 20,000 and the Hospicio authorities say that the situation may continue until the payment issues with the suppliers are resolved.
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