PORVORIM: Opposition members on Thursday criticised the State government for the lack of basic facilities and equipment in the health infrastructure of the State, especially in rural areas. Speaking during the discussion on health demands, Leader of the Opposition Yuri Alemao said, “The focus of the health ministry is only on Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMC).
Most of the health facilities in rural areas are inadequate. The hospitals which were built during the Congress regime are in dilapidated condition. There should not be a run-of-the-mill approach but better attention should be paid to the problem.”
Yuri said there is no coordination among Urban Health Centres (UHCs), Primary Health Centres (PHCs), South Goa District Hospital, and North Goa District Hospital.
He said people from far-flung areas come to GMC but they do not get appointments with doctors, especially neurologists, which is due to failure at the level of district hospitals, UHCs, and PHCs.
Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai said South Goa District Hospital is still a referral hospital and has not been able to become a full-fledged hospital. “It does not have a neurosurgery unit or MRI unit. Out of four generators, only one is in working condition. That too has been connected to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). At Canacona Community Health Centre (CHC), there is a shortage of medical staff and a blood testing facility. There are no operational ambulances. The same is the situation at Pernem. The hospital has no generator,” he said and demanded that an audit of all CHCs and PHCs be conducted.
