CUNCOLIM: One of the oldest health centres in South Goa, the Balli Primary Health Centre (PHC) which caters to the healthcare needs of patients from Cuncolim Balli, Adnem, Fatorpa, Morpilla, Quitola, Barcem and Velim is in urgent need of a facelift.
Forty-two years ago, the then Congress government in Goa, which was a Union Territory, inaugurated the PHC at the hands of former Prime Minister Morarji Desai on November 15, 1978.
In 2014, the BJP government under the leadership of former Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar had inaugurated the new building keeping the old building intact.
The present Deputy Chief Minister Chandrakant Kavlekar, who was then in the Opposition had demanded the PHC’s upgradation.
Locals have been asking as to why Kavlekar, who is the Deputy Chief Minister, cannot fulfil the demand to get the PHC upgraded.
For the locals from the remote and tribal areas, Balli PHC is the only hope. The PHC is in urgent need of facilities such as specialist doctors, operation facilities and trauma centre.
To add to its woes, the PHC is facing staff crunch. In fact the demand for recruiting more doctors, staff nurses and MPHW workers was made several times to government by PHC officials and the locals.
PHC sources informed Herald that they made many representations to concerned authorities but in vain. Fatorpa, Balli, Velim, Morpilla and Barcem panchayats too passed resolutions calling upon the government to upgrade of facilities by posting specialist doctors at least twice a week. However, the locals claimed that the government neglected their demands.
Balli PHC is forced to refer critical cases to Hospicio in the absence of specialist doctors.
Balli PHC requires Ophthalmologist, Paediatrician, Cardiologist, Surgeon and other specialist doctors. The Health Minister and Chief Minister during their recent visit had assured the locals to provide health facilities including Trauma Centre.
It is pertinent to note that the Dialysis Centre and Cardiogram facilities have been outsourced to a private agency. Some locals complained that the centre is charging fees from patients and demanded that the Health Department and PHC officials need to look into their complaints.
In fact PHC doctors, nurses and other staff especially during the pandemic have been performing at their best to provide healthcare facilities to the patients.
The PHC staff has to perform additional duties such as swab collection and prepare COVID reports and besides handle other patients.
Richard Fernandes, a local said, “Upgradation of the Balli PHC is the need of the hour as it caters to the healthcare requirements of the residents.”
Mahadev Velip, another resident said, “The PHC staff members are very helpful but we need more doctors.”
Another local Vishwas Gaonkar said “Our hope is only with Kavlekar and he must accord priority to upgrade the PHC.”
