Questions raised whether new look Hospicio will cater to requirements

MARGAO, JULY 13
Just two days to go for the deadline set by Chief Minister, Digambar Kamat to give a new look for Hospicio hospital, questions are raised whether there will finally be a turn around in the facilities offered in this government-run district hospital.
Perhaps for the first time, a team of Public Relations Officers (PROs) are available in the hospital to guide the public visiting the hospital. So is the case with the telephone operators, whose strength has been increased to meet round-the-clock requirements.
But, can the patients hope to receive better medical treatment or free medicines in this hospital?  Ask Chief Minister, Digambar Kamat and he says that a host of facilities will finally take place at Hospicio – benefiting the patients and visitors alike.
“The telephone operators and the PROs are put in place to ensure that public gets the required help and details from the hospital”, he said.
Kamat said two Ambulances requisitioned by Hospicio will become a reality in the next two-three days, which will again benefit the patients.
If the Chief Minister is to be believed, advertisements to fill up the post of doctors and other staff has been published in the newspapers, adding that priority will be accorded to fill the vacant posts.
As far as the ailing mortuary is concerned – which has given sleepless nights to the kith and kin of the dead – the Chief Minister said that Hospicio has moved a proposal to the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) to set up a new morgue at Hospicio and repair the ailing unit at Monte Hill. “My plan is to put an end to mortuary related problems at Hospicio once and for all. Things are moving in the right directions”, he said.
The Chief Minister intends to visit the hospital on Thursday to review implementation of the plans mooted by him to make Hospicio as the best government run hospital in the state.
But, sources in the know said the Chief Minister’s efforts will fructify only if the government fill-up the vacant posts of doctors, nurses and other staff on a priority basis. “Apart from a new mortuary unit, the government should appoint another medico-legal officer to meet the requirements and take the load off the lone officer”, the source said.
Officials have also called for expediting the ongoing civil works, including work on the Operation Theatres.