Team Herald

PORVORIM: In a bid to improve the functioning of Goa Medical College (GMC), the government intends to make use of the services of retired Army officers and jawans for administration and security supervision.

“As Defence Minister of this country, I have experienced the disciplined and methodical functioning of the armed forces. Retired Army officers and jawans are great assets for any organisation where discipline is a hallmark. I intend to make use of their services for administration and security supervision of GMC,” Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said in his Budget speech.

He said that GMC manages burn patients not only from Goa but also the adjacent States and in a year more than 250 paediatric and adult burn patients are treated. “We propose to establish a state of the art burns unit at Goa Medical College with ultra-modern equipment and machinery along with trained doctors with all the facilities including round the clock care,” he said.

“Government will complete construction work of new South Goa District Hospital on a mission mode and propose to put this hospital for public use with state of the art facilities. My government also further intends to upgrade Primary Health Centre at Candolim with increased bed strength and a new building. I also propose to establish a new PHC at Pirna, which would solve the problems faced by people in the locality,” Parrikar said

Parrikar also told the house that DDSSY is picking up and the government will further strengthen the scheme with enhancements in benefits after reviewing it at the end of one year. “I also propose to extend this scheme to government employees which will be optional to the present medical reimbursement scheme,” he said.