PORVORIM: The opposition MLAs on Wednesday in the Legislative Assembly cornered Health Minister Vishwajit Rane on the lack of facilities and specialists at the South Goa District Hospital, Margao, due to which they alleged it has become a referral hospital with 3612 referrals to the Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMC), Bambolim from April 2022 to February 2023, due to lack of requisite facilities.
The Members demanded to know how much money was required and when the hospital would be full-fledged functional.
Replying to a starred question jointly tabled by MLAs Carlos Alvares Ferreira, Vijai Sardesai and Venzy Viegas, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane cited the difficulties in getting specialists and said a model would be created with a tie-up with the public sector HLL Lifecare Limited and a committee would be constituted under Chief Minister and the process would be completed within next six months and all services will be integrated.
The Minister informed Members that the government is contemplating to use the NITI Ayog proposed scheme of linking private medical colleges with functional district hospitals through Public-Private partnership (PPP) vis-à-vis the South Goa District Hospital.
The government is thinking of giving permission to start a private medical college in the State and link it with South Goa District Hospital in PPP mode so as to overcome the problem of staff shortage and also more seats in medicine will be available to Goan students.
The Members had sought details of equipments and pending proposals for medical staff for both — South Goa District Hospital, Margao and the Sub-District Hospital, Ponda. They pointed out that about 133 posts at the SGDH, Margao were not filled up.
