Healthcare in Goa

The private healthcare sector is responsible for the majority of healthcare in Goa. Most healthcare expenses are paid out of pocket by patients and their families, rather than through insurance. Government sponsored healthcare or Government hospitals that are fully equipped to take on major cases are probably 2 in number across Goa ie Goa medical College in North Goa and Hospicio hospital in South Goa. These 2 hospitals cater to majority of the over 15 Lakh residents of Goa. The affording class can reach out to the private sector.

Healthcare in Goa doesn't come cheap especially when compared to other states in the country according to a latest report, ‘Key indicators of social consumption in India – Health’ published by the National Sample Survey Office, Ministry of Statistics and Programme. When the average total medical expenditure for treatment per child birth during stay in hospital (as in patient) was calculated throughout India, Goa was found to have the third highest average of 4,814 for treatment, per case at a public hospital and 24,757 at a private hospital when rural households were surveyed.

Among urban households, Goa had the fourth lowest average for treatment at public hospital at 639 and the fourth highest average at private hospitals 27,300 next only to Tamil Nadu (30,132) Assam (30,031) and Delhi (32,556).

(http://health.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/industry/healthcare-at-a-price-in-goa/48647552)

Being an Orthopaedic surgeon, and specialising in joint replacement surgeries of hip and knee, I for a fact see over 50 patients every day, many of whom need a joint replacement. A knee joint replacement in a private hospital could cost upwards of Rs 1,70,000 something that not many patients could afford -until a few months ago. Thanks to the ruling government’s scheme, the Deen Dayal Swasthya Seva Yojana (DDSY), healthcare to all Goans is within everyone’s reach. The best thing to come out of DDSSY is that the Government has empaneled top hospitals across Goa. My hospital, Orthopaedic Hospital for Surgery, located in Old-Market, Margao is one of them having been awarded an “A” grade, the highest grade in the DDSSY hospitals. Since the launch of DDSSY in 2016, many patients have availed of the DDSSY benefits and been operated by me at no cost to them. This is something on the lines of NHS (National Health Service) in the UK and Obamacare in the USA, wherein the Government pays for medical procedures of the patients.

Goa has 19 primary health centres, five community health centres, five urban health centres and 6 Hospitals. Of these 13 PHCs and all CHCs provide 24 hour healthcare and have gynaecological and paediatric facilities, as per the Directorate of Health Services website. (http://dhsgoa.gov.in/). The establishment of this network has kept Goa's health indicators considerably better than the national average for as long as anyone can remember. In addition to this, there is also 108, the emergency ambulance service servicing all parts of Goa. Started in association with GVK, the Emergency Medical Research Institute (EMRI) is a pioneer in Emergency Management Services in India. As a not – for – profit professional organisation operating in the Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode, GVK EMRI is the largest professional Emergency Service Provider in India today and has been operating the 108 ambulance since 2008. However, this entire set-up is marred by a large number of vacant posts, ill-motivated staff and non-availability of essential drugs undermine curative services at the PHC as has been reported in a number of local news-papers.

But tackling the woes in the State's healthcare system will be no easy matter. Social and economic changes are rapidly bringing in a new set of problems. The State is witnessing a rapid rise in chronic diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and mental health problems, and addressing these requires far more than mere infrastructure and rudimentary support.

Private healthcare: Despite attracting a large number of tourists from the world over, the healthcare system in Goa never developed to a level where it could provide specialty care to residents or tourists and tap into the booming Medical tourism industry. The local government needs to tie-up with small hospitals doing quality work and promoting medical tourism in Tourism fairs and trade shows instead of just showing Goa’s pristine beaches. We at the Orthopaedic Hospital for Surgery, have performed knee replacements on 6 foreign nationals in the last 2 months and they have all returned back very happy with their knees, and at a fraction of cost they would have incurred in their home country. 

The next few years are very crucial for Goa from a healthcare stand point. Proper attention to healthcare is the need of the hour. If not, then the day is not far when Goa’s healthcare system will neither be healthy, caring nor a system.