the goan I network
MARGAO
With civil works on the long-delayed South Goa district hospital expected to be complete in all respects by November 30, another problem of sorts may stare at the Hospicio authorities -- manpower constraints to run the 500-bedded hospital.
This became evident during the inspection of the district hospital under construction by members of the Public Undertaking Committee of the Assembly comprising MLAs Digambar Kamat, Clafacio Dias and Wilfred D’Sa on Saturday.
Hospicio officials told the panel that while existing staff sanctioned to meet the requirements of 250 patients can be stretched to treat maximum 300 patients, the situation may go out of control if the proposed 146 vacancies, including nurses and doctors, are not filled before the commissioning of the hospital.
While Digambar Kamat pointed out that people will not tolerate any Hospicio-type situation in the new district hospital, he has assured to call a meeting with Health Minister Vishwajit Rane to address these issues.
“Let me make it clear that the new district hospital should either recruit the required staff or take them on contract. I am sure that the existing Hospicio staff will not be in a position to take care of the load in the new hospital once it is commissioned,” Kamat said and asserted that the MLAs will also remain quiet if the new hospital is not equipped with adequate manpower.
Besides 146 doctors, nurses and paramedics, Hospicio authorities have proposed to the government to provide 60 security personnel to man the entire district hospital. In the absence of the security personnel, Hospicio cannot place orders for certain equipment since they required to be installed in the new hospital.
During the review meeting, GSIDC General Manager Jude Carvalho while briefing the Assembly panel said that most of the civil works are completed barring a few minor ones.
He said of the 11 operation theatres proposed to be set up in the new hospital, work on installing the six indigenous OTs has started. The five imported OTs are in the process of being shipped to India, he added.
The GSIDC senior official also told the panel that clearance of part payment for the contractors will go a long way in getting the work expedited at the hospital. The total outstanding dues to the contractors worked out to around Rs 15 crore. The government has so far spent Rs 200 crore on the hospital project.
Later briefing the media, Kamat said the district hospital has made much progress since the last inspection held on July 9, but conceded some issues still need to be addressed. “We will call on the Health Minister next week with a plea to sanction funds as well as manpower. Infrastructure at the GMC is collapsing today because of the load from South Goa. Commissioning of the south district hospital will also
ease the pressure on GMC,” he said.
To a question, Kamat said he does not want to set any more deadline on the commissioning of the district hospital and was only hoping that the 2020 brings cheers to the people of South Goa.
“Let the people of South Goa celebrate the New Year in January with the commissioning of the new hospital. My efforts to review the work of the district hospital is with an aim to mitigate the sufferings of the common man,” he said.
