Outlines plans for self-sufficiency to reduce referrals to GMC; lays stress on depts for Cardiology, Neurology, and Orthopaedics; resolve staff shortage
Health Minister Vishwajit Rane during his surprise visit to the South Goa district hospital on Friday.
MARGAO
Underscoring the need to make South Goa district hospital a Centre of Excellence, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane on Friday said he would discuss with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant the issues facing the district hospital so that patients from South Goa are not referred to the Goa Medical College and Hospital, Bambolim.
While complimenting the team of existing doctors, including Dr Eddie De Mello, manning the district hospital, the Health Minister stressed on the need to set up the departments of Cardiology, Neurology and Orthopaedic at the district hospital.
He said the situation should improve in the next 4-5 months, by saying he would not only discuss the issue with the Chief Minister, but see to it that what is discussed is implemented at the district hospital.
The Health Minister made a surprise visit to the district hospital and went round the various departments, questioning the queue of patients and the delay in attending to them.
Saying he has visited the hospital to understand the manpower crunch, including doctor and staff shortage, Rane said he would place his findings before the government to address the issues facing the South Goa district hospital. “We need to set up infrastructure at the South Goa district hospital so that patients are not referred to the Goa Medical College and Hospital, Bambolim. We need to set up the independent departments of Cardiology, Neurology and Orthopaedic at the hospital. The doctors are doing good work,” he said.
The Health Minister also stressed on the need to provide good food amenities at the South Goa district hospital on the lines of Goa Medical College and Hospital, Bambolim.
After reviewing the situation at the OPD wherein he was told that over 650-odd patients avail services at the hospital, Rane said, “Our whole aim is to provide the best of facilities to the patients.”
During his visit to the laboratory, he said an automatic blood analyser platform a la at the GMC will soon be sanctioned for the South Goa district hospital. “After this blood analyser platform takes shape, blood samples from the hospital will not go out for testing,” he added.
He pulled up a security personnel when he the found him seated on a chair instead of regulating the queue of patients waiting for their turn for the services.
He expressed his disappointment over the queue of patients at the Ophthalmology department, and was overheard asking a doctor to manage the situation and not to put the patients to inconveniences. “I need not come here to find out what is going on. You have to manage the situation,” he added.
After reviewing the situation at the Gynaecology and Radiology departments, Rane told Dr Eddie that the whole effort is to make the South Goa district hospital a centre of excellence.
When Rane said South Goa patients should not be sent to the GMC, Bambolim adding that the patients should be restricted at the district hospital with back up, Dr Eddie said, “for that we need supportive staff, including nurses and MTS staff.”
Interacting with a counsellor at the hospital, the Health Minister said people should get relief in five minutes. “Don’t rush or work in haste. We will soon install video cameras, wherein we will be able to hear what you are taking to the patients,” he added.
Meanwhile, Youth leader Prabhav Naik has expressed his hope that the much needed fully functional ICU, trauma unit, Cath lab and Neuro unit will soon become a reality. “Madganvcho Awaaz to improve the services of the South Goa district hospital has been heard by the government. Health Minister Vishwajit Rane has visited the hospital and took stock of the issues raised by Citizens of Margao in a memorandum dated August 27,” Prabhav said.
