It is very unfortunate and highly deplorable that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has made a U-turn and now directed that the Old Ribandar Hospital premises be given to the Ayush Ministry.
In October, last year, he had assured us that medical facilities would be restored there for the promised health centre. On the same day, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane along with Panaji MLA Babush Monserrate visited the premises and announced that a 30-bedded health centre would commence jointly run by the Directorate of Health Services and the Goa Medical College. We were assured it would be gradually expanded to a full-fledged Hospital.
Our proposed health centre file was approved by the Health Minister six months ago but was stalled by the Chief Minister due to opposition from Union Minister Shripad Naik who wants his Ayush centre there. It is an irony that Shripad Naik despite being a resident of Ribandar has been against the centre. He should have at least realized that after his car accident earlier this year, it was not Ayush treatment but the medical expertise at the Goa Medical College that came to his rescue.
