PANJIM: Praising the efforts of Goa Medical College (GMC) in imparting health care to patients, deputy Chief Minister and Health Minister Francis D’Souza announced the launch of a new burns ward and a special unit to cater to the elderly in the hospital.
With an increase in lifestyle diseases, including stroke, diabetes, arthritis and dementia, D’Souza said it was important to create a centre that will cater to dealing with these illnesses.
“Today most senior citizens suffer from lifestyle diseases ranging from diabetes to stroke, eye problems and dementia too. In the past there was no treatment but today there is,” he said, adding that it would take two months to get the centre ready.
He said the new state-of-the-art burns unit will help save lives keeping in mind the nature of the burns and paying keen attention to sterilization of the area.
In the last month, the urology department has dealt with 1,500 out patients, 250 in patients and has conducted over 130 operations including 10 renal transplants. The cardiology department has conducted 250 operations and procedures attending to 1125 out patients and 190 in patients. The hospital’s super special cardio thoracic unit has attended to 480 out patients, 43 in patients and conducted 40 surgeries.
On a daily basis, the hospital receives between 1,200 and 1,500 patients with 120 to 150 in the casualty section and over a 100 admissions.
While lauding the hospital’s doctors and staff, the minister also showed concern regarding the lack of doctors, mainly surgeons, and in the teaching department.
“We may have to consider getting retired doctors back to the hospital or look to relaxation of rules in giving permission to doctors willing to work by removing the 15 years residence clause. Language is another barrier that needs to be looked into. Currently GMC has a shortage of seven persons, mainly surgeons and 7 percent in the faculty,” said D’Souza.
Lack of qualified personnel applying for positions has also decreased he said giving the example of the anthropology department that had recently advertised a post for a doctor. Only one person had applied and the person hadn’t even appeared for the interview.
