MARGAO
Why was the Health Minister Vishwajit Rane hesitating to utilize the top two floors of the South Goa district hospital in times of the pandemic when it was clear that the approval for the nursing institute was granted on condition that the design of the floors should be such that these could be converted for expansion in the future if the need arose?
Inquiries by The Goan have revealed that the government in 2014 had given approval for the nursing school on the 4th and 5th floors of the building. But the government also made it clear that these two floors should be designed by keeping flexibility to convert these for expansion in the near future in case of necessity.
A perusal of the letter granting approval by the Public Health Department, Under Secretary Health (II) Maria Seomara De Souza on January 27, 2014, gives an insight into the government intention while giving the go-ahead signal to start a new nursing institute on the 4th and 5th floors as the state was badly in need of qualified nurses, particularly when the government has “Clinical Establishment Act” on its agenda.
The Under Secretary Health’s letter, however, also sheds light on the government intention as far as these two floors are concerned in the future. In the letter, Maria Seomara De Souza states that the 4th and 5th floors of the said building be designed by keeping flexibility to convert these for expansion in the near future in case of necessity.
The medical fraternity in private said the Covid pandemic has thrown up a huge challenge for the administrators to make available space and beds for the rising number of patients, with the state recording between 300-500 new patients almost every day in recent times.
“Since neither the nursing institute nor the proposed private medical college has come up on the top two floors till date, it is in the fitness of things that the government should open the top two floors as the state is facing a bed shortage,” he remarked.
Another Hospicio doctor pointed out that when the state is facing bed shortage in times of Covid, it is unfair on the part of the government or the Health Minster to keep the top two floors unutilised.
“Is not the government aware that the private medical college, which the Health Minister is advocating, can come up only if the people survive the pandemic?” the doctor questioned.
The top-two floors the district hospital, if officials of the GSIDC are to be believed, has a capacity to accommodate around 250 beds. However, the bed capacity may come down from the original capacity, with the GSIDC modifying the design and effecting changes inside these top two floors to house the lecture halls and other logistics for the nursing institute.
Earlier in the day, Goa Forward Chief Vijai Sardesai had said that people of Fatorda would be forced to knock the doors of the High Court if the government failed to utilise the top two floors of the South Goa district hospital for Covid care.
“The Health Minister appears hell-bent on setting up a private medical college on the top two floors of the hospital. When the hospital is situated in Fatorda, Fatordekars are not getting beds for Covid treatment,” he said.
The Congress too was vociferous in its demand. GPCC Chief Girish Chodankar demanded the entire building be made fully functional in 15 days or face agitation by the party.
“We are now serving the final ultimatum of 15 days to the government to stop dreaming about opening a private college in the complex. We will be compelled to come out with a huge morcha to show people’s strength,” he warned.
