Deputy Chief Minister Francis D’Souza’s statement that doctors are not interested in working in the Directorate of Health Services and that the government is finding it difficult to get doctors admits to a problem, but does not provide any solution.
When, for every government job there are hundreds of applications, the fact that there were just 15 applicants for 50 vacancies of doctors is startling and something for the government to reflect upon. We live in a State in which there are still people for whom getting into government service is the main aim. Politicians cash in on this during election time and promise jobs to their constituents. The health department itself receives hundreds of applications for other vacancies in the services. That being the case, there must be something terribly wrong with the government health services if doctors, who are highly qualified professionals, are reluctant to join the department. Yet, the government is displaying no urgency in remedying the situation.
The government has to immediately determine the reasons why doctors are reluctant to join the health services. Is it because of the salary structure or is it because of the mediocre medical facilities that the government hospitals provide the doctors to work with? Except for the speciality departments in the Goa Medical College that are well-equipped, the facilities at the other government hospitals and medical centres is below par. Even the facilities at the North Goa District Hospital in Mapusa that was inaugurated about two years ago are not up to standard. That perhaps could be one reason why doctors show no interest in joining government service. If the government can change the manner in which their hospitals function, it may see a larger number of doctors willing and ready to be part of the system.
The Deputy Chief Minister also said that the government will find it difficult to open more health centres if this trend continues. It is pertinent to note that health centres are based in rural areas and provide the most basic of health services – usually remedies for the common cold and the flu and act as the first centre of recourse in case of any emergency. Some of the health centres do not have overnight facilities for patients. Even among those that have such facilities, any serious case is immediately transferred to the district hospital or the Goa Medical College at Bambolim. If the government admits that it may not be in a position to bring even those most basic of health services to the people, then it is nothing short of an admission of failure on the part of the government.
For the people living in the rural areas, rushing to the towns for treatment is not always an alternative. Most depend almost totally on the nearest health centre to take care of their basic health needs. They visit the district hospital or the GMC only if the need arises. It is therefore imperative that health centres should not suffer in any way from lack of doctors or medicines.
The people expect the government to give them solutions, not to reveal its problems. Besides improving medical facilities at the health centres, another way to make government postings attractive to doctors would be to give them some incentive for joining. While service rules would apply to all those joining government postings, and they would probably be eligible for more leaves, better pension facilities and other financial incentives than those who join the private sector, faster promotions after a rural stint could be one option for the government to consider. It may also consider treating doctors in government service like professionals and not like other government servants.
Health care in Goa definitely does not rank among the best we have in the country. It may be comparable to the average health care systems available elsewhere. The Goa health services, in the past, have drawn a lot of flak for the poor quality of the health care it delivers. The criticism has usually centered around the condition of the hospitals and health centres. Hopefully the government will act before lack of doctors will be added to the list of improvements that can be made in the health services.
