TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: The two cardiac surgeons who were appointed by the Goa Medical College and Hospital have begun consulting for cardiac diseases, but can’t perform surgeries just yet as the operation theatre is not yet ready and may take some months to be functional.
Speaking to Herald, Health Minister Laxmikant Parsekar has said that the government has decided to go in for a ceiling mounted cath lab, based on recommendations of the cardiac surgeons. This is a change from their earlier decision to have a wall mounted cath lab.
A catheterization laboratory or cath lab is an examination room in a hospital or clinic with diagnostic imaging equipment used to support the catheterization procedure, crucial in cardiac surgery.
“On account of this we have had to change the terms and conditions of our tender and we will now be re-tendering it,” Parsekar said, adding that the entire process of floating the tender, time period given for bidders, procuring the equipment once ordered and setting it up would take at least another three months,” Parsekar said.
“Two of the five doctors who were brought on board have joined us. The other three were told to wait and join us later,” the Health Minister said.
The government had announced it was starting a cardiac unit at the Goa Medical College and Hospital from June this year. The final setting up will now happen only after three or more months depending on how quickly the authorities commission the equipment.
Currently the patients requiring cardiac surgery are referred to other hospitals and the money is reimbursed to the patient or to his/her family through the Mediclaim Scheme of the government of Goa.
The government spends nearly Rs 15 crore a year on an average, on reimbursements and starting a cardiac surgery unit is expected to bring down the government’s spending in this area.
