The Goa Association of Resident Doctors (GARD) has raised serious apprehensions that with 447 procedures now available to private hospitals in one go, GMC will rapidly see an exodus of patients from the OPDs and the wards. The Goa Association of Resident Doctors has met the Chief Minister and the Health Minister and even written to them calling for broader consultation and understanding of their views.
Even senior GMC doctors and specialists have opined that with all procedures available to private hospitals, the exposure to practical treatment and surgeries will be drastically reduced, which is a body blow to a recognised institution which may suffer de-recognition if there’s a 30 percent drop in patients. It must be remembered that there are newly recognised 50 MBBS and 22 post-graduation seats, which GMC doctors fear will be de-recognised.
The Health Minister and the government need to immediately allay fears and apprehensions and have a constructive dialogue with not just the resident doctors but senior faculty of the GMC. While an insurance scheme may well work, it is an assurance scheme that the GMC needs, for its survival and growth, because it is the back bone of health care in this state. Moreover, those running the institution cannot be demoralised.
At the same time, it is evident that the entire private sector health care will not buy into the scheme for various reasons. Many of them simply do not have the basic infrastructure needed to be registered under this scheme. And the ones who do will also have to agree to perform various procedures according to the rates prescribed. Therefore the Health Minster’s belief that private hospitals will reduce the workload of the GMC is also not spot on.
The bottom line is that firstly the GMC doctors need to be spoken to in order to address their concerns, irrespective of whether the government thinks they are misplaced or not. But at the same time, it needs to focus completely on improving GMC’s infrastructure which is non-negotiable. There are six lakh OPD patients who go to GMC each year. GMC therefore needs more doctors and regular stock of medicines. It needs better rooms, wards, water supply, clean sheets and so on. Many feel that apart from giving money towards the health scheme, funds should be allotted on priority towards infrastructure.
Any good doctor will tell you that the science of health care works with the art of consultation and healing. An ailing health care system needs just that.
