TEAM HERALD
VASCO: Admitting a shortage of manpower in the public health sector, Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar said his first priority would be to fill the administrative posts in the upgraded Chicalim Cottage Hospital.
He was addressing a gathering after unveiling the foundation stone for the up-gradation and extension of the Chicalim Cottage Hospital (CCH) on Wednesday. Others present at the function included Deputy Chief Minister Francis D’Souza, Environment Minister Alina Saldanha, Vasco MLA Carlos Almeida, Dabolim MLA Mauvin Godinho, Chicalim Sarpanch Rubina Rodrigues, MMC Chairperson Bhavana Bhosle and other councillors and panchas from Vasco and Chicalim.
Responding to a demand from Almeida for full-fledged medical team at the new CCH, Parsekar said there was staff shortage in the health sector.
“It might not be possible to fill all medical posts at the new CCH, as students pursue other specialized courses on completion of their MBBS. We can, however, fill the administrative posts at the CCH, but it will take time to appoint specialised doctors as we have to wait for students to complete their medical studies,” said Parsekar.
He stated that the new CCH would be upgraded to a sub-district hospital with the required facilities.
, the chief minister said hospital building would be built at a cost of about Rs 24 crore, with an additional Rs 10 crore for the interiors.
“Work on the upgraded CCH will be completed within the stipulated time and people from Mormugao taluka will get all facilities at the new CCH and people need not go to GMC at Bambolim,” he said.
In his address, Deputy Chief Minister Francis D’Souza remarked that doctors were reluctant to take up jobs in government hospitals due to comparatively lower salaries and the age factor. D’Souza requested Parsekar to address these two issues, to attract more doctors in government hospitals.
Vasco MLA Carlso Almeida stated that the new CCH would help the common man as it would be more affordable than private hospitals. He, however, said the people of Vasco have hopes for a bigger, better and full-fledged medical team hospital at the new CCH, to avoid the need to go to GMC for various treatments.
Environment Minister Alina Saldanha said the new CCH would benefit the people of all four constituencies in Mormugao taluka.
Thanking Parsekar and D’Souza for upgrading the CCH, Dabolim MLA Mauvin Godinho said that work on other projects in his constituency had also commenced.
