MARGAO: The South Goa District Hospital has been operational for the last few months, but with no full-fledged canteen in the complex, the public in general and patients’ relatives are facing hardship with no one to cater them.
It has been revealed that the relatives of patients admitted in the hospital and the public in general have to walk half-a-kilometre to bring refreshment.
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According to the sources, the hospital administration is waiting for the Code of Conduct imposed in wake of General Assembly elections to get over in order to float the tenders for the full-fledged canteen.
On the other hand, a few vendors, who tried their luck by giving services near the hospital compound, were removed by the police officials, which have further added to the woes of the public.
It may be recalled that the old Hospicio had been shifted to the new South Goa District Hospital for the last many months. However, there are no canteen services in the complex of the hospital since it has been made functional.
Speaking to the media persons, many citizens, besides the relatives of the patients visiting the hospital, complained about the same, and urged the government authority to start with the canteen services. At the moment, only water has been provided in the hospital, and there are no other canteen services available.
Rahul Shanbag, a Margao resident said that they can witness the people facing hardship over here due to no canteen facility in the hospital.
“It is our request to the District Collector to intervene into the matter and start with canteen services at the earliest in the district hospital. I have seen how people, mostly the villagers coming from remote areas like Canacona, and Quepem are facing lots of hardship in order to get some refreshment over here,” he stated.
He also urged the authorities to permit gaddas or refreshment services through the vehicles till the canteen is started.
Another citizen also brought to the notice of the media persons that there were two or three service providers who used to sell refreshment items outside the compound of the district hospital. However, upon the complaint of unknown, the police removed them from the site.
A vendor Nilesh Borkar urged the authorities to allow him to do business outside the hospital complex till a full-fledged canteen is operational.
