MARGAO
Just a couple of months ago, Hospicio authorities had planned a gradual shifting of the medical services from the over 150-year-old hospital to the 500-bedded South Goa district hospital.
As part of the plan, Hospicio had first shifted the OPD services, followed by the male and female medicine wards to the new hospital.
But Hospicio has now been left with no option but to keep the shifting on hold, but to revert the OPD services and male and female medicine wards back to the old building after the government decided to allot the entire 500-bedded South Goa district hospital for Covid use.
Hospicio Medical Superintendent, Dr Deepa Correia, said it will not take a day or two to transfer the OPD services and the male and female medicine wards back to the Hospicio building. She, however, said Hospicio will have to get things cleared before the OPD and male and female medicine wards are shifted back.
“It will not take much time to shift the OPD and the male and female wards back to the Hospicio. We hope to do the shifting before the weekend," she said.
Immediately after the male and female medicine wards were shifted to the new district hospital, then Hospicio Medical Superintendent, Dr Ira Almeida, had converted the male and female medicine wards as a De-Covid hub, where doctors and paramedics can just de-stress themselves after working for long durations.
In fact, on Doctor’s Day, the heritage Hospicio building played host to a makeshift badminton court in the male medicine ward after these wards were shifted to the new district hospital. The hospital also had plans to introduce carrom boards and table tennis tables in the male and female medicine wards that were left vacant after the shifting.
With the latest government decision, Hospicio will have no option but to look out for space in the hospital to relocate the De-Covid hub.
