The ailing Hospicio is virtually on a ventilator, anxiously waiting for a dose of medicine from the Parrikar dispensation for its sickness, as the government-run hospital, catering to South Goa and beyond, is indeed craving for urgent attention.
That Hospicio deserves government’s immediate care and attention is evident by the fact that the proposed district hospital for South Goa is unlikely to be commissioned at least for the next one year and half year. Thanks to a dedicated team of “overloaded” doctors, nurses and staff, the show goes on in the hospital. But, one can hear a question or two in the corridors of Hospicio – How long will the medical and para-medical staff manage the situation despite all odds and sans basic manpower and infrastructure.
Though Health Minister, Laxmikant Parsekar claimed in the House that there’s regular supply of drugs and medicines for Hospicio, it’s not uncommon to find patients being asked to procure even IV fluids from the market. That’s not all. Hospicio has no Intensive Care Unit (ICU) facility, but a monitoring unit meant for heart patients has no air conditioned facility for months now. Believe it or not, a GSIDC built operation theatre (OT) stands closed for want of repairs of an air conditioner and also due to water seepage. Delay in the repair of air conditioner has hit the blood bank unit as well.
The hospital had last year attended to nearly three lakh patients, but sadly, it has only two ambulances at its disposal, with the third one is hit by frequent breakdowns. The hospital has no hearse van either. Officials in the know say the hospital badly requires a fleet of five ambulances to meet the growing requirements.
Statistics placed on the floor of the House by the Health Minister, Laxmikant Parsekar has revealed that Hospicio is hit by a shortage of medical officers, surgeons, X-ray technicians, lab technicians, nurses, drivers etc. Though there’s been an alarming rise in cases relating to alcoholism, depression, suicides etc, the number of psychiatrists have not kept pace with the requirements.
For months now, the hospital does not enjoy an intercom facility, hampering its smooth functioning. Take the case of the hospital casualty. Hospicio has a full-fledged casualty, but it still lacks a dedicated team of medical officers to man the same 24×7 for want of doctors. If officials are to be believed, a lone dedicated medical officer mans the casualty during day time. After 4 pm, the casualty is looked after by medical officers drawn from the wards for want of full-fledged doctors, affecting routine work in the wards. To tide over the situation, doctors in the know say a total of 4-5 medical officers are required to man the casualty round the clock.
What’s interesting to know is that the government has brushed aside the problems plaguing Hospicio on grounds that a new district hospital is taking shape in the city. But, those in the know say that while the new hospital will take care of the bed shortage, nothing stops the government from appointing the medical, para-medical staff and tone up the infrastructure.
Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai, who raised Hospicio’s problems in the just concluded Assembly, said the government should put an action plan in place to meet Hospicio’s requirements till such time the new district hospital is commissioned. ‘The government has no right to say that the new district hospital will take care of the medical needs of South Goa people. What about the patients who visit the hospital to avail the health facility on a day-to-today basis”.
