VASCO
NGO Goa First on Friday objected to moves by the Directorate of Health Services to offer private services at the Chicalim Sub District Hospital (SDH), on grounds that the project was never conceived under the public-private partnership model.
"The new Chicalim SDH has a capacity of 120 beds and has been built on 2.81 acres of government land at a cost of Rs 27.36 crore funded by taxpayers' money,” said Goa First Convenor Parshuram Sonurlekar.
“The project was never under the public-private partnership model and with world-class amenities, the hospital gained a lot of support and people stopped visiting private hospitals now.”
“The DHS may be intending to offer private services at the hospital to benefit certain doctors, individuals and corporates, who may have been affected by the performance of the Chicalim SDH,” said Sonurlekar.
Sonurlekar said Mormugao has a large number of migrant workers who seek medical facility in case of emergency and for other healthcare issues.
“Most of them don’t even possess Deen Dayal Health Cards but still get the free medical facility at the Chicalim SDH thanks to the State government’s policy of free healthcare.”
"Most people use DDSSY cards in private hospitals only if necessary. If the government intends to offer private services at the Chicalim SDH, it could well advocate that free medical service will be provided against swiping of DDSSY card on every visit of the patient and during admission/hospitalisation.”
“Swiping of DDSSY card will only result in the deduction of medical insurance amount from the card and adding revenue to the individual or party running this hospital. There is a cap on the use of this card for each family and if the amount is exceeded, patients may have to bear the burden," added Sonurlekar.
