Team Herald
MARGAO: The long- standing demand to upgrade South Goa District Hospital to a tertiary care facility and make it fully functional has once again come to the forefront. Despite numerous complaints from citizens and debates in the Assembly, the hospital continues to fall short of expectations, prompting renewed
appeals from Madganvcho Awaaz and others for Health Minister Vishwajit Rane to fulfill his commitments.
It maybe recalled that the High Court had also taken up the matter following a petition filed by Goa Forward Party (GFP). Patients from across South Goa, including accident victims, are still transferred to Goa
Medical College for tertiary care, due to staff shortage and lack of equipment at SGDH.
Madganvcho Awaaz, a civic organisation, has urged the Health Minister to act on his promise to improve the hospital’s operations and address the pressing healthcare needs of South Goa. Youth leader Prabhav Naik reminded the Minister of the memorandum submitted by Margao citizens in August and his visit
to Hospicio in September, demanding that these commitments must now translate into concrete action.
Naik also highlighted global concerns, referencing the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) theme for Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day, “Health: It’s on the government.” He pointed out that financial protection is a critical component of universal health coverage, citing WHO data that shows 1.3 billion people have been pushed into poverty due to healthcare expenses over the past 20 years.
He warned that delayed diagnosis of non-communicable diseases and lack of access to life-saving treatments will continue to hit vulnerable populations. “Universal Health Coverage will remain out of reach unless governments take immediate steps to protect citizens from the financial burden of healthcare,” Naik said.