A delegation representing Goa’s medical fraternity met Chief Minister Pramod Sawant as part of the stakeholder consultations initiated by the Chief Minister’s Office ahead of the forthcoming State Budget session. The interaction, held as a courtesy call extended by the Chief Minister, focused on public health priorities, healthcare infrastructure, and policy reforms, with written memorandums submitted outlining specific proposals.
Dr Shraddha Patil, President of IMA Goa State, presented a series of initiatives aligned with the association’s current theme of neurodiversity. The delegation sought state support to promote awareness on neurodiversity at the school level through structured participation of IMA Goa. A proposal was also submitted to equip public spaces and residential apartment complexes with Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) to strengthen emergency cardiac response systems. In addition, the delegation proposed a joint menstrual hygiene awareness campaign between IMA Goa and the Education Department, Government of Goa, targeting school students. Collaboration with the government was also sought to enhance HPV vaccination awareness and coverage across the State. The delegation further proposed state-backed promotion of the Compression Only Life Support (COLS) initiative to improve bystander CPR response rates.
Dr Shekhar Salkar of Manipal Hospital highlighted the need to operationalise a single-window clearance mechanism for medical establishments, stating that existing regulatory procedures have become cumbersome. He also raised the issue of electricity tariff rationalisation, pointing out that hospitals are currently categorised under the commercial slab, resulting in high operational costs, and requested consideration under a concessional industrial or special healthcare tariff.
Dr Ajay Gangoli of Victor Hospital stressed the need to revise DDSSY scheme rates, noting that they have remained unchanged for nearly a decade despite rising operational and treatment costs. Dr Devdutta Sail, representing the Government Constituted Empowered Committee on Integrative Oncology, sought financial support for the existing joint integrative oncology clinic and funding for an Integrative Oncology Knowledge Centre to promote research and evidence-based cancer care.
