Super speciality block at GMC

TEAM HERALD

teamherald@herald-goa.com

PANJIM: In the next two years, Goa will have its own super speciality block within the sprawling Goa Medical College and Hospital premises as the Centre has sanctioned the project funds for its construction. This would mean the existing 10 super speciality units, housed separately in the GMC buildings, will be brought under one roof.

Health Minister Laxmikant Parsekar announced that the Central government has sanctioned Rs 150 crore on 75:25 funding ratio between the Centre and State at a press briefing at the Secretariat on Tuesday.

“The present government’s attempt to bring all the super speciality units in one dedicated space has been accomplished. The Centre has sanctioned Rs 150 crore for setting up super speciality block. Out of Rs 150 crore, the Centre will spend Rs 120 crore and the State will pay Rs 30 crore,” he said.

Similarly, the Centre has also sanctioned another Rs 45 crore for starting a Tertiary care cancer centre at GMC.

“With the setting up of the super speciality block, the respective regular wards will be relieved of the stress. We are now only required to give consent for the land, sharing of the amount and additional faculty, to which few more will be added. Our reply to the Centre will be sent within a week,” Parsekar informed.

Speaking to Herald, the minister said that it will take six months to start the procedure including demarcation of the land and other initial jobs while the construction of the block will be completed within 18 months. The plot will be fenced soon.

GMC Dean Dr VN Jindal, who was also present for the press briefing, said they will allot additional 300 beds in the block and the faculty members will also be recruited. “We will start with whatever we have at present. More faculties will be added once the block starts functioning,” he said.

GMC will provide super-speciality cardiac services from January 20, and these will be officially inaugurated on January 26.

Parsekar said, “We are intending to shift TB Hospital to GMC premises. Treatment of all ailments should be at one-stop and it should be GMC, is our aim,” he added.

In addition to this, the government is also proposing to start institution for Paramedic Education in the same area. “We have started five paramedic and one nursing courses. All these courses are presently housed at GMC. We want to bring all these under one roof,” he commented. Three additional lecture classrooms for MBBS students, new girls’ hostel, extension of Dental College are some more proposals in the list.

In the next two-to-three years, the Goa government will propose a new Cancer Centre, the minister said.