the goan I network
PANAJI
Expressing serious concern that patients were forced to conduct blood testings in private labs, health minister Vishwajit Rane on Saturday said that GMC would work towards having an in-house lab that would be fully functional and conduct tests on their own including cancer tissue testing. He also expressed his desire to set up a stem cell bank in the state.
“People are forced to spend Rs 800 to 2,000 on blood testing facilities. That is because the lab is not functional and also due to lack of technicians at GMC. Contracts of technicians have lapsed and we will be renewing them. We will have a meeting with management so that maximum number of tests and analysis of cancer related testing will be done at GMC.
“Even tissue testing will be done at GMC and will not allow the doctors to refer any blood analysis outside GMC once the technicians are on board. The file has gone to the government and will get it cleared at the earliest and ensure all the blood testing facilities are provided at one location at GMC,” said Rane.
He also said that discussions were on to strengthening and improving the blood bank and setting up of a stem cell bank. “We are studying the protocol especially if with permission we are allowed to harvest umbilical stem cells. These can be used based on certain protocols that companies have drawn up within the premises of the GMC. It is the future,” he said.
During his announcement, Rane also said that new fleets of ambulances would also be provided to GMC by the end of this month with more coming in June and July. Motorcycle ambulances will also be on track by June-end or beginning of July.
Initiatives like the pre-insulin and new born baby screening will be put back on track. The Diabetes Registry will also be activated, said Rane.
“Privatization of the hospital was also out of question, he said adding that I’m not going to privatize anything. At the most we can outsource certain facilities but with government permission and cabinet.”
“The private sector will survive but we don’t want our health services to collapse because of DDSSY,” the minister said.
