PANJIM: An amount which could have well been spent on either construction of new hospital or purchase of equipment, has been spent only on maintenance of Goa Medical College and the Goa Dental College.
Information availed under RTI reveals that the State government through Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation has spent approximately Rs 169.03 cr on the upgradation and maintenance works at the GMC and Dental colleges.
The RTI reply reveals that the government spent Rs 56.63 cr for the second phase of the Dental hospital, 16.17 cr for GMC upgradation, Rs 16.97 cr for construction of lecture hall, Rs 25.39 cr for maintenance works at GMC, Rs 16.74 cr for extension of RMOs hostel in GMC, Rs 11.91 cr for girls hostel at GMC, Rs 11.04 for examination hall at GMC, besides many other costs.
The upgradation works include the setting up of Cathlab, which may have saved government Mediclaim costs.
The expenditure also includes the conversion of the GMC subway to underpass at a cost of Rs 8.65 cr.
RTI replies reveals that while the expenses are done for the upgradation of college facilities and hostels for RMOs and students, improvement of facilities for patients is ignored.
What is shocking that despite the whopping costs spent on maintenance the treatment or facilities continue to be below standard at both the hospitals.
Herald had time and again exposed the pathetic conditions at the patients are living under. Wards, toilets, bed sheets continue to be in same condition which was four years ago. Patients have also complained of non-availability of medicines and they are made to buy from outside.
Recently, after the GenNext allegations, the Dy Chief Minister Francis D’Souza announced that a one-man commission will look into the shortcomings of the GMC.
Speaking to Herald, D’Souza said that since this is election year there are allegations almost everyday and hence the decision was taken. “I have taken over the reins of GMC for just over a year and I can proudly say I have been able to put many things in place which were in a mess but still there may be some shortcomings which I don’t deny,” D’Souza said.
D’Souza further stated that the one-man panel will probe the shortcomings of the GMC and submit its report within 30 days. “It is not humanly possible for me to visit the GMC everyday and I know the officials also may or may not be giving a true picture so it is better to appoint an independent inquiry and probe the matter,” he said.
Asked about the amount spent on GMC, he said, this is needed as per the MCI guidelines. “We had to carry out the works for increasing the seats from 100 to 150. You cannot compare the treatment and development of infrastructure they are two different things,” he said.
On the non-availability of medicines, he said, “The total patients at the hospital every month is around 15,000 to 16,000 and it is bound to cause shortfall of medicines but we are looking into it and trying to get it back on the shelves at the earliest.”
