MARGAO
Dialysis patients seem to have been caught in the crossfire between Health Minister Vishwajit Rane and Health Director Dr Sanjeev Dalvi on one side and the dialysis unit owner, Dr Venkatesh R in the battle for the shut down of the dialysis unit housed in the annex building of Hospicio hospital.
While the dialysis operations continue at the annex building, with the matter pending in the High Court, patients availing dialysis facility at Hospicio run by Dr Venkatesh are left with no option but to climb to the second floor of the building via the stair case for want of an elevator.
Around 90 patients are believed to be availing facility at the dialysis unit, but reports pointed out that around 10 patients are required to be physically lifted to the second floor given their health condition.
The building lift, sources said has been non-functioning for quite some time now and despite the plight of the visiting patients, the same has not been repaired and put to use, sources said.
When The Goan contacted Hospicio Medical Superintendent Dr Ira Almeida to shed light on the lift in the annex building, she pointed out that the lift has not been repaired since the building was declared not fit for human habitation. In fact, she pointed out that when the Hospicio authorities had requested the PWD to repair the lift, the department was categorical in saying the lift cannot be repaired since the building is unsafe.
“After the lift had developed a technical snag, we had written to the PWD to take up the repairs. However, the PWD replied back saying that the lift cannot be repaired since it is located in an unsafe building,” Dr Ira said.
Aam Aadmi Party State convenor, Elvis Gomes has slammed the attitude of the State government, saying innocent patients visiting the unit for dialysis are put to hardships and inconveniences for want of a lift. “Leave aside the row between the government and the dialysis unit owner, the government should have provided the lift facility in the building taking into account the plight of the patients undergoing dialysis at the unit. I have personally seen how patients are being physically lifted to the second floor of the building for want of a lift,” Elvis said, while saying the government cannot ignore the fact that patients from many parts of Goa are availing the dialysis facility in the unit run by Dr Venkatesh.
The government and the dialysis unit owner had been locked in a bitter row last year over the payment of dues to Dr Venkatesh and after the government tried to get the owner evicted from the second floor of the building after the unit was engulfed in flames.
