Oscar Fernandes promises another one for N Goa
TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: The state-of-the-art upgraded 100-bedded ESI hospital at Margao was inaugurated on Monday, with Union Labour Minister Oscar Fernandes promising Goans that the Centre will go in for a second ESI hospital in North Goa and will also honour the pledge to set up a medical college if the state government makes available the required land.
The Union Labour Minister also said the Centre has taken a policy decision to increase the salary slab to Rs 25,000 to benefit workers’ ESI medical scheme. He also said the ESI hospital facility in Margao can be utilised by the general public if the capacity utilisation falls short of the set norms.
Speaking on the occasion, Fernandes said the Centre will honour its promise to set up a medical college in Goa provided the state government makes available 25 acre land for the project. “A medical college is required under the ESI scheme so that the best of specialities and facilities are available in the hospital. The whole idea is to give specialised treatment to workers”, he said, while saying that ESI Corporation has set a target to open 30 medical colleges across the country.
He pointed out that the ESI hospitals will not only provide treatment to the workers and their families, but make available screening facilities. Plans are afoot to provide seat reservation for the wards of industrial workers in the ESI run medical colleges.
In his address, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar made a request for a ESI hospital in North Goa and hoped that the Margao ESI hospital will be a model hospital in the state and the country. He said that all equipment and facilities will fall in place in the hospital within two months.
Former Chief Minister Digambar Kamat requested the Union Labour Minister to consider extending the medical facilities in the ESI hospital to the general public. In reply, Fernandes said the ESI has brought about an amendment to the rules to extend medical facilities to the public if the capacity utilisation is below 60 per cent.
Rajya Sabha MP Shantaram Naik thanked the Union minister for upgrading the hospital benefiting thousands of people.
