Ponda SDH gets new lease of life
Lone surgeon gets extension
THE GOAN NETWORK
PONDA
Operations at the Sub District Hospital (SDH) at Ponda were expected to be adversely affected with the lone general surgeon retiring on Thursday, but a recent government's decision has given a new lease of life to the hospital.
Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar's announcement last month of increasing the retirement age of government doctors to 62 years has enabled the Ponda SDH to retain the services of its lone general surgeon for an additional period.
Speaking to The Goan, SDH Medical Superintendent Dr Pradeep Shinkre said general surgeon Dr Santosh Naik was to retire on Thursday.
Though Parsekar had announced during the launch of Deen Dayal Swasthya Seva Yojna (DDSSY) at Kala Academy on May 30, that retirement age of government doctors would be raised to 62 years, the Ponda SDH administration had not received any official communication in this regard.
“I was extremely concerned about the situation, as our lone surgeon in the hospital was to retire on Thursday and we did not know if he was given any extension or not,” said Dr Shinkre.
Hospital officials made enquiries and were then informed that his service was extended, bringing much relief to Dr Shinkre and the Ponda SDH.
“However, I will have to check for how many years the service has been extended at Ponda SDH. It's a big relief for us, because this hospital desperately needs a surgeon,” Dr Shinkre added.
“It would be even better if the government can provide a second surgeon to the SDH, since we can then provide better services to the people in and around Ponda taluka. At present, when the lone surgeon goes on leave, we have to postpone operations. This situation can be avoided if the Ponda SDH gets one additional surgeon,” he said.
