Heated Competition among Congress and BJP to upgrade South Goa District Hospital

Congress MP Capt Viriato pledges one ambulance, BJP Rajya Sabha MP Sadanand Tanavade pledges two ambulances from MPLAD; Health Minister Vishwajit Rane pledges two ambulances from his Goa Development trust

Capt Viriato Fernandes, South Goa MP (L) and Vishwajit Rane (R) Health Minister talking to media on the South Goa District Hospital upgradation

Published on:

02 Sep 2024, 12:18 pm

MARGAO: The shortage of doctors, nurses and equipment at the South Goa District Hospital, Margao and its upgradation has become a prestige issue between the Health Minister and North Goa MP Sadanand Tanavade on one side and South Goa MP Viriato on the other.

Initially, South Goa MP Capt Viriato had promised to donate an ambulance from MP funds, after the death of a patient allegedly due to absence of an ambulance. Subsequently, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane said six amublances would be given to South Goa District Hospital.

On Monday, Capt Viriato again visited the South Goa District Hospital and interacted with the Medical Superintendent and assured him support for upgradation of all the medical facilities, since he is the South Goa MLA.

There is a shortage of doctors, nurses, medical staff, non medical staff, technicians. Government has to provide these services, we cannot compromise here. There is also shortage of ambulances. I pledged an ambulance to South Goa District Hospital. The day the senior citizens submitted a memorandum to me, Health Minister announced 5 ambulances. I will fight with the Centre just like how other state MPs fight for their states.

CAPT. Viriato Fernandes, MP South Goa

However, earlier, reacting to Viriato’s offer of an ambulance, Rane said that two ambulance would be donated by North Goa MP Sadanand Tanavade and two from Rane’s trust. He also said the district hospital would be upgraded to a tertiary hospital.

I pledge to make South Goa Hospital a centre of excellence. From my own Goa Development trust, I have decided to donate two ambulances for it with advanced life saving systems. Apart from that today, we are deputing one ambulance to the South Goa District Hospital. Also Rajya Sabha MP Sadanand Shet Tanavade said he would donate two ambulances from his MPLAD funds. So a total of 6 ambulances will be available at South Goa District Hospital.

Vishwajit Rane, Health Minister

We hope that the competition between the Congress and the BJP to upgrade the South Goa District Hospital will benefit the population of South Goa, and considerably reduce the high number of referral from SGDH to Goa Medical College Bambolim, since time is of critical importance while saving precious lives.