VASCO
NGO Goa First on Saturday has supported the stand of Panchayats Minister Mauvin Godinho against the privatization of Chicalim Sub District Hospiital.
NGO Goa First Convenor Parshuaram Sonurlekar in a press release said that they would like the minister Mauvin Godinho to get a written confirmation from the Ministry of Health and CM Dr Pramod Sawant that this hospital will not be privitised at any cost.
"We strongly condemn any such privatisation move as this hospital caters to half of Mormugao Taluka and three constituencies of Dabolim, Vasco and Mormugao. More than one lakh people benefit from this hospital. The hospital is supposed to be leased for 33 years by the directorate of health," Said Sonurlekar.
Sonurlekar said that he had filed an RTI with the Directorate of Health in the month of February 2021.
"The RTI have revealed that one sub district Hospital was to be given on PPP Mode. Currently the tender is at finalization stage.There was approval of the Government to float the tender for management of clinical and diagnostic service at SDH Chicalim. There is no expert committee report available with the DHS office. As per the tender floated by DHS, three quotes were to be submitted by the bidder which shall not be below 5% of the revenue (quarterly) & tender was not yet finalized by DHS. As per the tender floated by DHS, the total number of beds allotted to the private partner would be 60," said Sonurlekar.
"As per noting of Finance department, the matter was referred by public health department for administrative approval to float the tender on revenue-sharing contract basis towards provisional management of clinical and diagnostic services at SDH Chicalim for period of 33 years,"said Sonurlekar.
"Because of Covid 19 pandemic in the year 2020, the tendering and bidding process may have not started otherwise this facility would have been allotted to few hand-picked entities. We believe that favouritism will be the key mantra of this PPP model just like food catering and pharmacy allotment at GMC. We also request all the three MLAs to stop the privatisation of this hospital and look forward to give better facility and services to the people of Mormugao taluka," added Sonurlekar.
