The North Goa district hospital which is also known as Asilo caters to the whole of North Goa. Almost 35,000 patients visit this hospital every month but without the ICU service, this hospital only carries out general and Gynac surgeries. Without an ICU in place, the hospital cannot carry any major surgeries like heart, Neurology etc.
However, sources informed the health department is planning for a 8 bed ICU in North District Hospital which is currently under planning process and the health department has already inspected and space for the ICU has been made available here.
Talking to Herald, Medical Superintendent of North District Hospital Dr Geeta Kakodkar said, “We carry out the general and Gynacsurgeries with the help of consultants and Anesthetists. The surgeries are carried only when the patients are fit for surgery. If the patients are unfit, then we make sure that the patients fit with proper medication and after he is proclaimed for surgery by the anesthetists. However in case of emergency, the patient is referred to Goa Medical College and the hospital at Bambolim”.
On an average, the North District hospital carries out around 364 surgeries every month. These surgeries include major as well as minor. Every day around 60 operations are being carried here.
Meanwhile the hospital has recently started the dialysis service which is presently functioning without ICU with the help of consultants. However, no case of negligence has been reported till date due to absences of ICU.
Around 1500 patients visit the OPD (Out Patient Department) of this hospital everyday. These patients include 1/4th of Migrants and 3/4th of Locals. Average number of 35,000 patients take treatment in the OPD section of North District Hospital Mapusa every month. But even though the OPD is being handled by one doctor at a time. With only one doctor and around 1500 patients per day, the doctors are being burdened with sometimes 10 patients at a time specially in the evenings.
When contacted the MS Dr Geeta Kakodkar, She said,” There is shortage of doctors in almost all the departments but soon new doctors will be recruited and the posts will be filled up”.
