SURAJ NANDREKAR

Serving people and saving lives is our motto, is what the new health minister Vishwajit Rane’s message is for all the staffers of GMC as so also other hospitals.

Of late, the social media for a change has got some positive things to say about the GMC and has also credited Rane for the turnaround.

Last week noted businessman Manoj Caculo’s post on Facebook read, “Just experienced the cardiac unit at GMC for treatment of close relative. Superb overall efficiency and appreciable medical treatment, comparable to the best in the country. Our health minister Vishwajit Rane, you are leading Goa health services to very high standards…salutations”.

The health minister says he believes in simple things and wants the basics right first.

“We have started more sensitisation amongst the staffers on healthcare. Sensitivity and immediate response is what is required and we make sure basic things are available and everything is functional,” he told Herald in an exclusive chat.

Rane said he is seeing to it that all the medicines which are required are made available. “Hygiene and discipline is another factor which is most important,” he stresses.

“We have started carrying out rounds. The head of department meetings are held every week; besides, separate meetings of all the nursing staff,” Rane says when asked how he got the staffers working again.

“We are here to serve the people and our purpose is to save lives,” he explains. 

Rane says he himself has been carrying out inspections sometimes at night. 

“Everybody is on their toes so that everybody knows there is a monitoring going on. I believe things have been improving but they have to be improved further. Now I will start reviewing what types of equipments are required,” Rane continues.

He says the doctors at GMC are very good. “It’s just that you need to listen that their voices are heard and needs are looked into,” he quips.