Team Herald
PANJIM: Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte on Sunday slammed Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant over the utter mismanagement of COVID19.
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He was reacting to Herald expose on COVID19 purchases and capping of rates in private hospitals.
“In wake of allegations regarding COVID purchases, fund mismanagement and related issues, there have always been clear signs of differences between the Health Ministry and the CMOs but the brunt of this lack of co-ordination is being paid by Goans with their lives,” Khaunte said in his social media post.
He said it was shameful that the issue of COVID purchases at 6 to 10 times the market rates has already been highlighted by the media, which CM has ignored as usual, and surprisingly Health Minister Rane too is maintaining a convenient silence.
“There are also allegations of COVID funds mismanagement as well as distortion of COVID figures which have been substantiated by a Stanford study showing Goa as one of the State’s giving wrong data. The recent announcement to give COVID kits for home quarantine will be the next scam if not managed properly. Nothing is free of corruption under Dr Corruption and the Health Minister should guard against offering such opportunities under his watch,” Khaunte charged.
He alleged that the capping of rates in private hospitals is another sham that shouldn’t have been allowed by the Health Ministry without proper review.
“The rates are exorbitantly high and beyond the reach of majority Goans. Comparatively, a day’s stay in the most luxurious 5-Star hotel is cheaper! The onus should not be on promoting private hospitals rather it should be to use private hospitals to supplement the government hospitals in time of crisis,” he said.
He said priority should be to bring on par the facilities and infrastructure in government hospitals which are the only solace to the majority population.
“Why are even our own ministers/MLAs going to private hospitals for treatment? We have the best, experienced & dedicated medical fraternity in government hospitals but are short of infrastructure, supplies and basic amenities. Priority should be to give the best treatment in the State to the poorest of citizens in government hospitals. Those who can afford private hospitals can definitely avail the facility but not because the treatment in government hospitals is unreliable,” he said.
