PANJIM, AUG 5
The Opposition and the Health Minister Vishwajeet Rane clashed once again in the House today over Elbit India Hospitals Ltd, (EIH), an Israeli company that has entered into an agreement with the State Government to set-up state-of-the-art hospital at Bambolim near Goa Medical College (GMC) & Hospital.
Fartorda MLA Damu Naik who tabled the question during “Question Hour” on Thursday criticised the government for handing over 10000 sq mts land on lease for a period of sixty-years to EIH plus Rs 20 crore mediclaim reimbursement. Fatorda MLA alleged that huge booty has been endowed to a foreign company even as Indian ventures had shown interest in setting up Hospital Project.
Intensifying attack against the Health Minister, Opposition Leader Manohar Parrikar alleged “fixing” in the award project to EIH. “I have prima facie evidence to prove the charge,” said Opposition demanding that Health Minister should revoke the project awarded to the Israeli company.
Parrikar further said he is willing to produce more evidence to prove the charges. His main contention was that Israeli company was certain that it will get the project and therefore registered the company in the name of EIH a month before it signed an agreement with Goa government. “I will place evidence on the table of the House, will he (Health Minister) cancel the contract or at least, put it on hold?” asked Parrikar.
The health minister denied any ‘illegalities’ in the award of the contract of the hospital project saying , he has purely acted in the interest of the people.
Though he said points raised by the Opposition Leader will be examined, “I categorically say no,” to the demand made by the Opposition Leader.
“You should have raised your objections earlier and not when the project is above to be commissioned,” Rane said.
Under the agreement the government is obliged to refer all the mediclaim and reimbursement patients to the Project Hospital from the date of issue of first milestone certificate.
A Rs 140 crore health project will have at least five super–specialties.
this include interventional cardiology, cardiac surgery, paediatric surgery, neurosciences, nephrology. Besides, it will be free to add other services that it deems fit.
