the benefits to the people, the costs to the exchequer, including the escalation and very importantly the effects on ecology and environment. It has been our painful experience that Governments, particularly on the eve of elections, are keen on implementing populist schemes, projects and freebies to attract votes. Expenditure involved in these is very high, but the cuts, kickbacks too are. These help in much needed finances for elections.
Half-baked projects: The rush in projects/schemes is to meet the deadline — the forthcoming elections — with the result that the Government finds no time to obtain clearances and enforce requirements imperative for their execution. Consequently, several large projects even those like Mopa, Mandovi bridge, the 80 m. width road, called a bypass, over many village fields are being constructed by destroying hills, etc, are bulldozed, some without proper permissions, feasibility reports, environment impact assessment, etc. Eventually, they land up in Courts with attractive benefits to contractors by cost escalation and blame on activists labeled as “anti-development.”
Development cannot be haphazard or at the cost of environment. Rules are made for implementation to avoid disasters like in Chennai or Uttarakhand or situations similar to the one now being witnessed in Bangalore. They cannot be flouted more so by Governments, which must lead by example. The mighty hurry in pushing projects and schemes, mostly half-baked, like IIT and NIT without any vision, improper or inexistent infrastructure and major requirements in place, has as its main purpose winning votes, gaining financially and implementing hastily the hidden agenda, apprehending no more opportunity.
Deen Dayal Swasthya Seva Yojana (DDSSY) is a laudable initiative aimed at providing quality healthcare to those residing in Goa for five or more years, irrespective of their financial status. Under it, a family of up to 3 and of 4 and more members will be covered up to Rs. 2.5 and 4 lakh respectively. The annual premium, of Rs 3,206 per family will be borne by the Government. The scheme will be applicable in all Government and private hospitals across the state. DDSSY will cover 447 types of investigations and related surgeries. But it appears that a thorough study of the scheme has not been made and it is again the rush that may take its toll.
Will it impact GMC? Surely it will, as rightly apprehended by GMC doctors and students. Initially DDSSY provided for only 176 procedures to be shared with private sector. But all of a sudden, possibly under pressure from private hospitals, all 447 procedures have been opened also to private sector. Since people are likely to opt for private hospitals, with better amenities and facilities, the in-patient and out-patient turnover at GMC will drop drastically. The quality of doctors graduating from GMC will be hit due to lack of exposure and experience, in absence of patients and GMC will resemble private, deemed teaching institutes, producing sound doctors with no exposure. The additional 50 MBBS and 22 PG seats approved recently are based on GMC present bed occupancy of 79-81% and daily OPD of around 1400-1600 — 75% and 1200 being minimum. Even minor decrease in patients could result in de-recognition and withdrawal of approval of additional seats or even reduction, after MCI inspection due in January.
“A student learns by observing the senior doctor treat the patient. Medical teacher guides us to become good and safe doctors. And we want to become good and safe doctors only to serve the people of Goa, says an anguished student. He adds: “Would you want to be treated by a doctor who has a degree but has seen hardly any patients? On one hand Government brings NIT to Goa and inaugurates IIT Goa but instead of strengthening medical education, it backtracks from the path of success. Current infrastructure, medical facilities and personnel need improvement in GMC, so that we can provide better patient care to the people of Goa. This is Government’s responsibility. Giving such blanket insurance will only strengthen private sector and cause GMC to collapse. This will lead to further exodus of doctors into private and there will be point of no return, because irreversible damage would have already occurred,” he added.
GMC is a worthy successor to Escola Medico-Cirurgica de Goa, founded in 1842, being the first medical school in Asia. Despite all its shortcomings, this premier institution makes all of us proud. I have myself, in these and other columns sung praises of various doctors and surgeons, who shunning better prospects, chose to serve their own people in GMC. May their tribe increase.
It ranks among the 50 top Medical Colleges in the country, has a better doctor-patient ratio than most hospitals and caters to 25% of all deliveries in Goa, 20,000 major surgeries annually and innumerable minor procedures stand testimony to the skills and dedicated care of its staff.
People would perhaps be happy with the scheme. But doctors and students are unhappy, though their work and responsibilities would lessen. And why? Because, unlike politicians, they care for and love their Alma Mater, where they have put their heart and soul for the benefit of suffering humanity. They would not want this prestigious institution to sink.
My appeal to the Government, with folded hands, is: Spare the GMC. Do not allow a good scheme to destroy our age-old institution. Listen to the doctors and students. Else, these must unite and along with the people rise to salvage this pride of Goa.
(The author is a retired banker)
