Team Herald

VALPOI: Health Minister Vishwajit Rane on Saturday informed that the Maharashtra government has written to him requesting the withdrawal of 20% fee charged by the ‘C’ category hospitals from people from other States. 

“But I will not withdraw the fee; let them put pressure on; I will never take my decision back,” the minister asserted.

Rane was addressing a mega health camp held at Shree Ram High School in Khadki village on Saturday

Further he informed, “I have replied to the Maharashtra government that if they have any medical scheme and if it’s favourable for us (the Goans), then, we will integrate that scheme with our scheme. Further, I have told them to sign an agreement or MoU with our government, but till date they have not replied us.” 

Charging fees for medical treatment in the State-run health facilities is not a Maharashtra issue, but a migrant issue, he added. “If we spend all the money on migrant people, then, our people will get nothing. On Saturday, a Maharashtra minister had come to meet me in Goa, regarding the fee charging issue and I told him that I am not in Goa, I am at Delhi.”

“They (Maharashtra ministers) are demanding withdrawal of the charges, but I will not. It is their responsibility to provide their people good health facility and to build them good hospitals in Maharashtra. I will never change my decision. Goans are not getting beds in GMC; they have to lie down on the floor. Besides, we are not getting the beds in ICU also, I have seen it with my own eyes. This is not a financial matter. I am responsible for the people of Goa not of Maharashtra,” he said.

Rane said that he has informed the Maharashtra government that the Goa government does not charge very poor people and emergency cases.