PANJIM, JAN 19
The new district hospital in Mapusa which has been ready for over two years now will be commissioned on March 31, 2011.
The Advocate General (AG) Subodh Kantak told the High Court on Tuesday that the new District Hospital will be fully commissioned by March-end.
He made the statement before High Court during the hearing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by one Prakash Sardessai complaining about failing health care system of Goa. He had complaint that the government run hospitals are understaffed and the health services provided by them are sub-standard.
Amicus curiae Saresh Lotlikar told the Court that Asilo Hospital in Mapusa does not have an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and Trauma Unit even as dilapidated hospital caters to population of an entire North Goa district.
The government in its affidavit on July 20, 2010 had informed the Court that these facilities will be made available in the new district hospital which is already under construction and shall be commissioned by December, 2010.
However, the government has failed to commission it fully in spite of several assurances, he pointed out. Senior Counsel Lotlikar also prayed that the High Court should issue necessary directions to the government to shift the Asilo Hospital to the new premises forthwith.
The AG told the Court that the new hospital will be fully commissioned by March 31, 2011. The 300-bed district hospital has eight operation theatres and adequate staff and infrastructure it would be impossible to commission it immediately, told AG.
In view of non-availability of doctors and other specialised staff, the government had taken a policy decision to operate it on Public Private Partnership (PPP) basis, he added.
