MARGAO
People depending completely on Hospicio hospital for their medical needs are hoping that in the New Year the authorities concerned will streamline its functioning till such time the services from the 150-year-old heritage hospital are all shifted to the long-delayed district hospital.
The government has virtually put a stop to major infrastructural works at Hospicio on the premise that the district hospital is due for commissioning around August this year. And, the blame for accommodating patients on
People depending completely on Hospicio hospital for their medical needs are hoping that in the New Year the authorities concerned will streamline its functioning till such time the services from the 150-year-old heritage hospital are all shifted to the long-delayed district hospital.
The government has virtually put a stop to major infrastructural works at Hospicio on the premise that the district hospital is due for commissioning around August this year. And, the blame for accommodating patients on
the floor or forced to share beds for want of space may not lie at the doorsteps of the Health Minister or the Health Director.
The question doing the rounds in the corridors of the heritage hospital building is whether the government would make available the required number of doctors, medical officers, bio-chemists,
radiologists, besides para-medics and attendants and ward boys. And, does the hospital has the wherewithal to curb the growing menace of pests, posing a threat to patients, especially new-borns. A report compiled by Chairman of the Hospicio Visiting Committee Dr Venkatesh Hegde has revealed that Hospicio is in dire need of adequate number of doctors, including five medical officers, even though the Medical Superintendent Dr Ira Almeida has claimed that the hospital has received a couple of consultants recently.
The absence of super specialty doctors such as neuro-surgeon, neuro-physician, endocrinologist has also left Dr Hegde a worried lot. "These doctors are absolutely important. Due to their absence, many a time patients are referred to the Goa Medical College and Hospital. A neurosurgeon is very important as many accident cases are reported at the casualty with head injuries," he said.
To tide over patients queuing up at the medicine, gynecology, surgery and pediatrics sections, the Hospicio Visiting Committee Chairman has suggested that the OPDs of these departments should continue in the evenings also, with a further suggestion that OPD of every department should be open everyday form 9 am to 1 pm.
Says Dr Hegde: "I have not come across any major changes in the recruitment of doctors and staff at the Hospicio after my report on the status of the hospital. The Health Minister along with TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai are expected to visit and inspect the hospital in the new year and take stock of the situation and shortages," he said.
The city-based doctor, however, asserted that while one can understand the government's stand that it's now futile to take up any infrastructure works at Hospicio with the medical services due for shifting to the new district hospital, there cannot be any compromise on medical services to the patients.
The government should ensure that the vacant posts are filled up on priority so that medical services are nothampered for want of staff, Dr Hegde added.
The question doing the rounds in the corridors of the heritage hospital building is whether the government would make available the required number of doctors, medical officers, bio-chemists,
radiologists, besides para-medics and attendants and ward boys. And, does the hospital has the wherewithal to curb the growing menace of pests, posing a threat to patients, especially new-borns. A report compiled by Chairman of the Hospicio Visiting Committee Dr Venkatesh Hegde has revealed that Hospicio is in dire need of adequate number of doctors, including five medical officers, even though the Medical Superintendent Dr Ira Almeida has claimed that the hospital has received a couple of consultants recently.
The absence of super specialty doctors such as neuro-surgeon, neuro-physician, endocrinologist has also left Dr Hegde a worried lot. "These doctors are absolutely important. Due to their absence, many a time patients are referred to the Goa Medical College and Hospital. A neurosurgeon is very important as many accident cases are reported at the casualty with head injuries," he said.
To tide over patients queuing up at the medicine, gynecology, surgery and pediatrics sections, the Hospicio Visiting Committee Chairman has suggested that the OPDs of these departments should continue in the evenings also, with a further suggestion that OPD of every department should be open everyday form 9 am to 1 pm.
Says Dr Hegde: "I have not come across any major changes in the recruitment of doctors and staff at the Hospicio after my report on the status of the hospital. The Health Minister along with TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai are expected to visit and inspect the hospital in the new year and take stock of the situation and shortages," he said.
The city-based doctor, however, asserted that while one can understand the government's stand that it's now futile to take up any infrastructure works at Hospicio with the medical services due for shifting to the new district hospital, there cannot be any compromise on medical services to the patients.
The government should ensure that the vacant posts are filled up on priority so that medical services are nothampered for want of staff, Dr Hegde added.
