Team Herald
NAVELIM: As part of the World Patient Safety Day observance, the Goa Consumer Action Network (GOACAN) launched a campaign to inspect public health facilities across the State. Their first visit was to the Navelim Primary Health Centre (PHC), where concerns about the lack of transparency were highlighted.
GOACAN’s inspection revealed that the PHC notice board did not display the names of the doctor or the number of staff members deputed there, a lapse that has raised questions about accountability.
Roland Martins, coordinator of GOACAN, voiced his concern over the situation. “Transparency in the PHCs regarding the medical staff working there is vital,” said Martins, emphasising the importance of displaying essential information for patients.
He announced that in the next three days, GOACAN will inspect all the PHCs across the State and launch a public awareness campaign to inform citizens of their rights.
According to Martins, the campaign’s main objective is to ensure that health centres follow the necessary regulations, improving transparency and services for patients.
The campaign also aims to raise public awareness about the state of public health services and the need for improvements, especially in the wake of recent cholera and dengue outbreaks at Cutbona Jetty.
During the visit to Navelim, Martins stressed the importance of various committees tasked with improving public health at the grassroots level, pointing out that many citizens are unaware of their existence
“These committees play a crucial role in public health management, but our inspection shows that many of them are inactive. Many doctors appointed to the PHCs are frequently absent. These doctors will soon be held accountable,” Martins said.
Postcard campaign for public complaints
NAVELIM: In an effort to empower citizens to voice their health-related complaints, GOACAN is distributing 5,000 postcards as part of its campaign.
These postcards are designed to make the complaint process easier for the public. Complainants can simply write their name, village, and a brief description of their health-related issue on the card and post it.
The postcards will be sent directly to the Directorate of Health Services, which, according to Martins, is required to act on the complaints as per the rules.
The campaign emphasises the need for transparency and improved management in public health centres, aiming to ensure that citizens are aware of their rights and that public health services are delivered efficiently.