MARGAO
Hospicio South Goa district hospital is back in the news again, but for a reason that will certainly bring in good news for the people of the district.
Patients from South Goa no longer need to travel to the Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMC), Bambolim, for MRI scans or day-care chemotherapy, with both facilities now available at the South Goa District Hospital, Hospicio.
The two facilities, which were earlier available exclusively at the GMC, have been introduced at the district hospital in the last two months, providing significant relief to patients and their families who previously had to make the long journey to Bambolim.
Hospicio Medical Superintendent Dr Rajendra Borkar told media that the two recent additions have received a good response from patients.
On the day-care chemotherapy facility, Dr Borkar said patients are initially treated and evaluated at the GMC before being referred to the South Goa District Hospital for subsequent chemotherapy sessions. “We are informed by the GMC administration around 10 to 15 days before the patients are sent to the district hospital. The patient comes to the hospital after the GMC examines all the treatment regimens. We procure the required drugs from the GMC before administering them to the patients,” he said. The chemotherapy treatment is provided free of cost. Dr Borkar said the facility had also proved convenient for patients’ relatives, as they could return home more easily after accompanying patients for treatment. A dedicated team comprising doctors, trained nurses and MTS staff has been assigned to provide chemotherapy services at the district hospital. The MRI facility has also significantly reduced the need for patients from South Goa to travel to Bambolim. Dr Borkar said the MRI machine, which cost the government around Rs 11-12 crore, is currently being utilised for around 10 scans a day.
Of these, about five patients are referred to the district hospital by the GMC, while the remaining five are patients from the South Goa district hospital.
The scans are conducted at the district hospital, while the reports are sent to the GMC for interpretation. Patients’ phone numbers are recorded and they are contacted once the reports are received and ready for collection.
