Health Dept has no control over hospital: Mapusa MLA

PORVORIM, JULY 28
Claiming that the condition of Asilo Hospital in Mapusa is pathetic, Mapusa MLA Francis D’Souza has claimed that the Directorate of Health Services has no control over the hospital.
“The building of the hospital is on the verge of collapse and hence it requires major repairs,” said D’Souza.
“In view of this, I had requested Health Minister Vishwajeet Rane to atleast shift the Asilo Hospital with the existing infrastructure to the new hospital building from hygienic point of view and start the morgue section of the District Hospital for the convenience of the people of North Goa, but in vain,” added D’Souza.
“Warranty on new equipments/machinery, which have been installed in the District Hospital must have been over by now. The government has to bear the maintenance expenses of the District Hospital unnecessary. It is nothing, but waste of public money,” said D’Souza.
Mapusa Citizens Forum President Ratnapal Salker said: “In the first place, the existing Medical Superintendent of Mapusa cannot handle hospital affairs properly. Hence he should be replaced with active medical officer immediately.”
“Nobody cares for the patients in the hospital. I remember an incident which occurred in this OPD few months ago, the patients who had come to take out ECG at 9 am were told at about 12 am that the ECG machine was not working and were directed to come the next day,” said Salkar.
“When one of my relatives informed me about it to me over the phone, I rushed to the hospital. I called up the health minister and brought the fact to his notice,” added Salkar.
“This hospital must have atleast two or three ECG machines, as patients come to the hospital with great hope. The Intensive Coronary Care unit was set up in 1987, but it has not been upgraded thereafter,” he said.
“Most of the doctors working in the hospital are working either in private hospitals after office hours or practicing at home,” claimed Salkar.
“The government should set up a grievance cell to enable the patients to air their grievances and the visiting committee should not have politicians as committee members,” suggested Salkar.
Social worker Madhukar Bhonsale said he has been visiting the hospital since 1979. OPD Block was constructed to cater to the need of population prevailing then.
“During the course of last 30 years, there has been substantial increase in population and hence the existing structure needs to be upgraded,” added Bhonsale.
“Since the new District Hospital building is ready in all respects, the government should shift the hospital immediately to the new building. This hospital has already earned bad reputation and hence to avoid further damage, the government should take immediate action in this regard,” opined Bhonsale.