This refers to the letter ‘Angioplasties’ (Herald July 3, 2012). Readers need to thank Dr. Francisco Colaço for enlightening them on the need or otherwise of undergoing angioplasty. It has become the order of the day for patients going for consultation, to privately run hospitals to be advised to undergo angiography which in eight out of ten cases is followed up with an angioplasty.
As rightly put by Dr. Colaço, ‘commercialisation’ has set in the fraternity of cardiologists at private hospitals mainly to take advantage of the Mediclaim Scheme of the Government or the insurance scheme made available by companies to their employees. My own close relative, who had already undergone an angioplasty at a well known private hospital in Margao, was advised by the same interventional cardiologist that he would need to “immediately” undergo another angioplasty despite the fact that he himself had put the patient on Aspirin, a drug quite synonymous with heart ailments. The family decided to take a second opinion from another well respected physician who categorically ruled out any further invasive procedure. At the end of the day the private hospitals are not set up as a philanthropic gesture for the benefit of the common man but to make money for the promoter.
Sheikh A. Rahim, Margao
Goans insured?
‘Medical Insurance For All Goans’. This is what my government Swarnajayanti Aarogya Vima Yojana card proclaims. After visiting the empanelled hospital in my area, the Directorate of Health and speaking to the ICICI Lombard insurers, I understand there is a MoI between the Digambar Kamat government and the Insurer. I was advised to find details from Google! Here Aarogya has only one “a” and it is Bima not Vima! A cashless scheme for those admitted for treatment upto Rs 60,000/-. Parrikar reportedly will raised the limit to Rs two Lakhs. The hospital I visited told me that it is only for when a patient is operated. No OPD treatment and no super specialty either, only primary and secondary diseases. They could not give me a list on what I am not entitled to! I witnessed cards being given to anyone without checking or even if they said they only had an Aadhar card, which was issued in a hurry to all regardless as a Unique Identification number. It appears no one is clear on what is exactly mandated by this scheme. Will the government please officially make details of this scheme clear to all concerned?
John Eric Gomes, Porvorim
Travel efficiency
Manohar Parrikar must be applauded for striving hard to bring about positive changes in the State in various aspects. The idea proposed by him to introduce digital meter taxis/internet GPS system, is a brilliant one. This is a step ahead as far as development of Goa is concerned. This concept works in the UK very efficiently and comes in really handy for any traveller. More commonly known as radio taxis in UK, through this system a person can dial a number and tell the control room exactly where the taxi is required, and the control room sends the nearest taxi at the required place within minutes. This saves time and cost. We Goans are all aware that taxis in Goa charge very high rates which are not affordable to the common man. Such digital meters should be introduced for goods carriers as well. I personally fell that Parrikar should without any hesitation introduce this concept which I’m sure will make life easy and affordable for the common man.
James Souza, Swindon
Zebra Crossing
A Zebra Crossing is the oldest established form of controlled pedestrian crossing. But zebra crossings are being blatantly neglected these days. Although drivers know that the existence of a Zebra Crossing is for safe crossing of the street by pedestrians, they do not give importance to it. The other day a couple would have been knocked down by a speeding BMW at the zebra crossing next to Margao Post Office. The driver had no patience to give way to the couple crossing the road. It is time that concerned authorities start acting on those violating zebra crossings, by issuing challans to them. They should also have zebra crossings painted next to city schools for the safety of students, especially at Holy Spirit School, Margao. Those zebra signs that have faded needs to have a fresh coat of paint.
