MARGAO: It’s official. The government has finally conceded that the South Goa district hospital – work on which has been dragging on for the last five years – will be commissioned only after two and half years from now and at a cost of Rs 150 crore.
Till the commissioning of the hospital, Health Minister Francis D’Souza said the government will take care of the shortcomings in the ailing Hospicio on a temporary basis.
Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the Self Help Group Mela at the Lohia Maidan, Margao, the Health Minister said that nearly 60-70 per cent of the civil work on the hospital is complete till date. “The government is floating a new tender to complete the balance work at the district hospital. If there is cash flow, the hospital should be commissioned within two and half years at a cost of Rs 150 crore”, he said.
On the shortcomings at Hospicio, D’Souza said he is aware of the problems plaguing the government run hospital. “Recently, I received a letter from Fisheries Minister Avertano Furtado highlighting the various problems affecting the hospital. I have also received complaints through various sources”, he said, while saying that he has issued various directions to put the things in place.
As far as manpower constraints are concerned, the Health Minister said the hospital is in need of doctors, nurses, attendants, technicians, lab assistants, while promising to solve the manpower requirements within a year.
On the ailing mortuary unit, D’Souza admitted that though the GMC morgue capacity has been upgraded, people of South Goa should have a spacious mortuary in the district. “Till such time the new hospital falls in place, we will have to tone up the existing mortuary infrastructure”, he added.
