PORVORIM: The Deputy Chief Minister, Francis D’Souza, on the floor of the House on Monday offered to resign if proven of taken bribe for renting out the old building of the Sanquelim Primary Health Centre (PHC) to a nursing institution run by BJP legislator Dr Pramod Sawant.
D’Souza, who is also the health minister, was cornered by the opposition for illegally leasing out the old PHC building to be operated by a nursing institute, during the cut motion moved on the demand for grants for Health. The issue was raised on the floor by former health minister and congress MLA Vishwajit Rane.
“The reason for leasing out the premises was to create more qualified nurses which are need of the hour. And the institute is asked to pay the rent as fixed by the Public Works Department,” Minister said.
“For doing this, I have not taken any money. Not even a single rupee. If someone can prove that I have taken even a rupee then I am ready to resign as Health Minister. I will also resign from other portfolio also,” D’Souza told the state Assembly responding to the allegation.
The minister said that attempts are being made to create problems for the government, who is making all out efforts to provide the best medical facilities. “The facilities and treatments available in GMC is one of the best, despite being the oldest health institute in Asia,” he said.
“The fact that most of the MLAs, including deputy speaker Vishnu Wagh, Caetano Silva, Benjamin Silva, preferred GMC over private hospitals for treatment is itself a certification to GMC,” D’Souza said adding that the death percentage at GMC has remained stagnant since 2012 between 4.05 per cent to 4.08 per cent.
Deputy Chief Minister told the House that the number of unclaimed bodies, which goes up during the tourism season, is one of the major worries for the department.
“As far as unclaimed bodies which are languishing in the morgues of government run hospitals, these are mostly medico legal cases. Their number increases during the tourism season. The reason we are not aware,” he said.
The minister said hospital or police cannot dispose off these bodies without following the proper procedure. “The police have to write to all the states and in case of foreigners to the embassies. They have to check whether they are missing persons’ bodies,” D’Souza said.
“Recently, I have issued directions to police to send the bodies of foreigners back and if not burry them. As far as local bodies are concerned, the municipal bodies are asked to dispose them. We have started the process,” the minister said.
Replying to yet another question on the inadequate staff at the PHC, the Health Minister said that the delay in approvals from department of finance and administrative, hampers the recruitment process of doctors and nurses.
