TheHospicio hospital has always been the venue for more and more “Goan born”babies. But of late, it has become a friendly delivery center for mothers ofneighbouring states who come, deliver and leave because of the freeservice and health schemes available in the State.
Anestimated 200 babies are delivered every month at Hospicio Margao, thanks toour charitable health services.
Thematernity ward of the Hospicio hospital is filled with pregnant mothers fromneighbouring states bordering Goa. Interestingly pregnant mothers from Belgaum,Karwar, Mumbai, Bijapur, Hospet, Dharwad and other parts of the states board atrain to Goa few weeks before their due date and head straight to Hospicio toavail free delivery of a new-born child.
The normal cost for a delivery at a private hospital costsnothing less than Rs 8,000 for a minimum of five day stay in the hospital.
Most of these pregnant women are noteven patients of Hospicio and have never visited the hospital for apre-delivery checkup. They come to Goa only to avail free service paid by thelocal government, according to senior doctors.
“We have to carry out the delivery onhumanitarian grounds and provide them same maternity service, as we offerGoans. It is a little unfortunate that non-Goans look at Goa as adestination for free healthcare and get preference over Goans,” said Dr P SNachinolkar, Medical Superintendent at Hospicio Hospital.
On an average Hospicioconducts 186 normal and 60 cesarean deliveries every month. 80% of the motherscome from outside the state and the rest from slums spread in variousparts of the state. Further most of these births are than registered in Goaallowing these migrants to settle down in the state.
