PONDA: After six-hour long protest on Sunday night, the Ponda locals allowed the State government to convert the Ponda Sub District Hospital into COVID Hospital, on Monday.
They withdrew their protest on the condition that the Health Department makes an arrangement, for an alternative medical facility, for the locals of Ponda Taluka. Following this, the process to convert Sub District Hospital into COVID hospital began.
With outpatient department (OPD) closed and some patients discharged, the Ponda Sub District Hospital’s medical facility for the terminally ill patients will be temporarily shifted to Dilasa Hospital, Farmagudi. The patients were referred to Marcaim, Dharbandora hospitals and GMC.
On Sunday, the Ponda locals were irked when the Sub District Hospital patients were suddenly asked to shift to Goa Medical College and Hospital or get discharged and go home in order to convert the premises into COVID Hospital without providing an alternate medical facility, which forced the panic locals to agitate.
Later, Sub District Hospital Incharge Dr Vikas Kuvelkar promised the protesting mob to arrange an alternative medical facilities, at Dilasa Hospital, Farmagudi.
Dr Kuvelkar said, “The process for converting sub district hospital into COVID Hospital began from today and we are shifting the OPD and other medical facilities for general public at Dilasa Hospital, Farmagudi, which is a private hospital constructed for terminally ill patients.”
It may be recalled that on Sunday evening the locals opposed to covert this hospital into COVID hospital and thereafter late night tension prevailed as the patients were asked to get discharged from the hospital and either go home or at GMC.
The hospital authorities, Deputy Collector in presence of police force tried to vacate the hospital but the locals staging “dharnas” till late night opposed the move.
The Ponda locals were irked with the fact that the government is trying to convert the hospital into COVID hospital without make an arrangement for an alternative place for the patients and asking them to get shifted to GMC for treatment.
However, the government firm on decision, deployed police force at sub district hospital, and began the process of discharging the patients amidst the locals including MGP leader Dr Ketan Bhatikar objecting to it.
Finally, Deputy Collector Kedar Naik, Ponda Police Inspector Harish Marcaikar and Dr Kuvelkar held a discussion with the locals.
