MARGAO
Citizens of Margao and Fatorda have expressed concern over the deteriorating healthcare services at Hospicio South Goa District Hospital (SGDH), saying the people of South Goa deserve the “Viksit Goa” healthcare standards promised to them, and not a transit point to Bambolim.
In a letter to CM Pramod Sawant, Melvin Fernandes and Yogesh Nagvenkar said that although the hospital was inaugurated as a modern facility to decongest the Goa Medical College (GMC), it continues to function mainly as a referral centre instead of a fully equipped district hospital.
According to them, the new SGDH facility was expected to continue this legacy, but the present situation marked by staff shortages, neglect and a growing referral culture undermines that vision.
They also pointed out that proposals since 2016 to set up Cardiology, Neurology and Nephrology departments remain pending. Diagnostic facilities such as MRI services have also reportedly been unavailable at times, forcing patients to seek costly private treatment. The duo urged the government to recruit doctors and nurses urgently, prioritise local candidates, and make key departments fully functional to end the referral crisis.
