Now, spotlight on housing for key hospital workers
MARGAO: While the Director of Health Services and the Goa Medical College were all geared up on Friday to start the Covid hospital in the South district Hospital, a new issue has come to haunt the authorities “ on the question of accommodation of the doctors, para-medics and the Multi-Task workers and workers of agencies engaged for housekeeping work.
Sources in the know told The Goan that the file pertaining to the payments for the accommodation of the doctors, paramedics and housekeeping workers has been sent to the government for approval.
Around 45 doctors, 70 staff nurses and housekeeping workers of agencies will be deployed at the South Goa district Covid hospital.
The district administration has made accommodation arrangements for the doctors, paramedics and housekeeping staff, by roping in the Colva Residency for the doctors and two other hotels at Colva for the para-medics and housekeeping staff.
Given that the accommodation issue entails huge payment of money, it is learnt that the authorities have taken up the matter with the government to clear the file before the doctors and nurses arrive at the hospital for duties.
“We have to make accommodation arrangements for the doctors and nurses the housekeeping staff before they start treating the patients in the Covid hospital”, a senior doctor informed.
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MARGAO
Is the South Goa district hospital ready to function as a Covid hospital, beginning from Saturday, as per the deadline set by Health Minister Vishwajit Rane?
Yes, says officials of Directorate of Health Services and Goa Medical College, but on a small scale, with a drill planned for the doctors and para-medics, drafted for duty at the district Covid hospital on Saturday morning, just to make the staff accustomed to the new hospital building.
And, if sources are to be believed, before any critically ill patient is admitted in the hospital, the district hospital may play host to a couple of Covid patients, out of the ICU and on the way to recovery at the ESI Covid hospital, till such time the hospital is fully geared up to function as a full-fledged hospital.
Officials of the Director of Health Services told The Goan that the DHS is all geared up to run the hospital, with an official saying that the health services have arranged around 150 beds in the district hospital to begin with. “The DHS will also provide some doctors and nurses as well to attend to the patients”, DHS official informed.
When The Goan called up Goa Medical College Dean Dr Shivanand Bandekar to shed light on the opening of the hospital, he said the Health Minister Vishwajit Rane has set September 19 as the day to commission it, adding that the health authorities will start the day with a drill for the doctors, paramedics and MTS workers to be deployed at the hospital.
Dr Bandekar said all preparations for the commissioning of the hospital are in place, barring minor issues, which will be resolved in a day or two.
He said the government has procured liquid oxygen from Mumbai which will be provided to the South district Covid hospital.
“We are all geared to commission the Covid hospital. Since it is a totally new hospital, we will be holding a drill for the doctors and staff just to accustom them to the new building’, he said.
To a question, he said given that it is a totally new hospital, Covid patients on the way to recovery and are out of the ICUs may be admitted in the new hospital in the beginning, before the hospital goes into full-fledged operations.
