Multi drug resistance TB's biggest challenge: Dy CM
Says there is need to modernise Health department
THE GOAN NETWORK
PANAJI
Praising the State’s handing of Tuberculosis (TB) cases, State Health Minister and Deputy Chief Minister Francis D’Souza said the biggest hurdle facing its control was the development of a multi drug resistance situation.
Speaking at the inauguration of a modern X-ray processing system called the Computerised Radiography System (CRS), D’Souza spoke on the issue of drug resistance and the need for research in the area.
“In the past, patients suffering from TB were shunned but this is not the case today as patients today receive quick treatment. The problem however is the development of multi drug resistance. The strain is constantly mutating and requires a great deal of research in dealing with it,” he said.
He also said that most TB cases registered in government hospitals in the State were of migrants; however, 40 to 50 per cent cases were also of Goans suffering from the disease though most of them preferred private institutions for treatment.
D’Souza also praised the CRS launched at the TB and Chest Disease hospital, St Inez on Friday saying in addition to building infrastructure, there was also a need to focus on modernizing equipment in the health department.
CRS being one such instrument is a huge change from the existing 40-year-old X-ray machine that was at the hospital. Instead of the conventional developing process of using chemicals, dark rooms and taking 30 minutes, the new system prints the film in minutes and can accommodate up to four patients’ x-rays on one film.
Speaking at the inauguration, Goa Medical College Dean Dr Pradeep Naik said the system would be beneficial both for the doctor and the patient.
“The new system will help in a better diagnosis of the patient’s condition, especially those suffering from respiratory illnesses, and doesn’t even require the patient to carry the x-ray with him every time he comes for a consultation,” he said.
With the help of cable networking, the image of the x-ray could be sent electronically to different peripheral points situated at different stations like the OPD block or the wards, helping in better and faster management of patients.
“As the machine can store the old films of the same patient, it avoids the trouble of carrying old film records by the patient,” said Naik.
Insurance scheme to cover entire population by year-end
PANAJI: The health department’s universal insurance scheme, Deen Dayal Swasthya Sewa Yojana is expected to cover the entire population by the end of 2016.
Though only the technical bid was complete with the financial bid to be finalized on April 25, Health Minister Francis D’Souza said the actual work would be visible in three months time.
“Actual implementation of the scheme will take at least three months and will start rolling out the insurance cards by July. By year end, we are looking to cover the entire population but we will need people’s cooperation as well,” said D’Souza.
According to the scheme, heads of families will be issued a card which based on a premium will cover around 447 medical treatments. The minister also said the State would save an estimated Rs 500 crore by way of the scheme and would eventually lead to the complete stopping of the current Mediclaim Scheme.
“Savings made for the government will only be estimated after a year. But I can estimate it to be around at least Rs 500 crore. Once this scheme is completely implemented, Mediclaim will be stopped,” he said.
