the goan I network
MARGAO
Saying that it may take six more months to complete work on the South Goa district hospital building, raising questions whether the long-delayed hospital will be commissioned by year-end, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane on Saturday assured Saxttikars and the people of South Goa in general that the district hospital will have all facilities, including cardiac facility, a full-fledged radiology unit with MRI facility,
Cath lab, etc.
Rane said he will discuss the status of the district hospital with Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Monday to put in place the financial requirements, adding that the health services has placed orders for equipment, beds in the new hospital. He said a review meeting of the hospital will be held in the hospital building in the first week of July, tentatively between July 3-4 with the TCP Minister, local MLAs and the consultant.
Addressing the media, the Health Minister said the health services has accepted the suggestion made by the TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai for a cardiac facility and a MRI unit in the district hospital. “Why should people of South Goa travel to the GMC, Bambolim for treatment. They should get all the facilities, including cardiac, Cath lab, MRI right here in the district hospital,” Rane said, adding that the new cardiologist appointed by the government at the initiative of the Chief Minister will be sent to the district hospital upon completion.
He further said the district hospital, South will also enjoy the services of the empaneled diagnostic centres on the line of the GMC, Bambolim.
“I am one Health Minister who does not believe in spending huge money on machines. Let the companies supply the machines and we will pay for the services,” he said, adding that a similar system will be adopted at the district hospital.
To a pointed question whether the district hospital will not be commissioned by year-end as was assured by the government in the past, Rane shot back “I have been told by the consultant it will take at least six months more to complete the building work. I will discuss the issue with the Chief Minister on the release of funds for the contractor. Once the building is handed over to us, we will start shifting to the new premises.”
He conceded that South Goa district hospital has been dragging on for long now, even as he stressed on the need to put the hospital project back on track.
TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai had last month told the media that the district hospital will be commissioned on Goa’s Liberation Day on December 19, after the government admitted that it would be impossible to commission the hospital on Independence Day.
