the goan I network
MARGAO
A cardiac care ambulance finally became a reality in Margao on Friday, expecting to provide quick medical care during the golden hour, but the bigger question remains unanswered “ when will the government start interventional cardiology in the city hit with the shutdown of the Apollo Victor hospitals.
While Hospicio attends to heart patients and administers them clot busting drug before referring them to the Goa Medical College and Hospital, Bambolim, interventional cardiology such as angiography procedures have come to a complete halt in the city after the closure of the Apollo Victor hospitals. While Hospicio only performs non-interventional cardiology, and the South Goa district hospital is yet to see the light of day, Madgavkars in need of angiography procedure have no option, than to either head to the GMC or a private hospital.
City-based heart specialist, Dr Rajeshwar Naik expressed his concern at the inauguration of the cardiac ambulance over the absence of cardiac facilities. “We need to improve the Hospicio. Compared to North Goa, South is suffering. Presently, Hospicio is not adequate to meet the cardiac requirements. In South Goa, angiography procedures have stopped. In whole of South Goa, there’s no cardiologist,” he said, while making a fervent plea to start a full-fledged cardiac unit for the benefit of South Goa.
Inquiries have revealed that Hospicio has a coronary unit which attends to patients complaining of heart ailments. Says Hospicio Medical Superintendent, Dr Ira Almeida: “When patients come to the hospital with heart problem, we administer them the clot busting drug during the golden hour. If needed the patient is referred to the GMC for further treatment. Hospicio has sufficient stock of the Thrombolytic drug”.
Incidentally, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane during his visit to Salcete last week at Carmona had also expressed concern over the absence of interventional cardiology in Margao. In fact, Rane had pointed out that the government is toying with the idea of either taking the cath lab of Apollo hospital on hire to start procedures at the hospital for the benefit of the people of Margao.
Meanwhile, after inaugurating the cardiac care ambulance, Margao MLA Digambar Kamat said the ambulance will act like an ICU at the door step of the common man. “I thank Vishwajit Rane for hearing the voice of Madgavkars. And, I am confident that he will accord top most priority to commission the district hospital and give relief to the common man,” Kamat said.
Dr Rajeshwar further suggested that the government make available the clot busting injection in the cardiac ambulances so that the patients receive the injection during the golden hour. “I am confident the Health service will do the improvisation. Such cardiac ambulance facility is a common feature in developed countries. Goa is fortunate to have such a facility and has become the first State in the country to have such a facility,” Dr Rajeshwar added.
