Goa Blog

The service, cleanliness and maintenance at the Goa Medical College and Hospital, Bambolim, came under criticism from the Chief Minister, Mr Digambar Kamat and his ministerial colleagues on Monday afternoon. The point about charging non-local patients was also raised, and a consensus reached to charge the non-Goan patients. Speaking after inaugurating the 450-bed ward block at the GMC, Mr Kamat called upon the staff to adopt a humane approach and provide good care to those who come to the GMC for treatment. Mr Kamat observed that there was a saying which says that turning of a structure into a home takes the initiative, the hearts and minds of the people who live and work there.

People who work in the hospital have a great responsibility they have to work mindful that they have to help people. The Chief Minister observed that people judge a hospital, whether it is good or bad, by the yardstick of treatment given to the patients. These are government hospitals which cater to the downtrodden of society. And for this reason patients should be given good, humane treatment.

Informing that the North Goa district hospital would be inaugurated next month, he said that providing proper infrastructure is governments concern, while doing the actual work on the spot is the concern of attendants, doctors nurses. Also present on the occasion were the state legislative assembly Speaker, Mr Pratapsing Rane, the Health Minister, Mr Vishwajit Rane, the PWD Minister, Mr Churchill Alemao, the Power Minister, Mr Aleixo Sequeira, the St Andre MLA, Mr Francis Silveira and the St Cruz MLA, Ms Victoria Fernandes.

Earlier, the Speaker spoke on the need to provide quality service to the local people and put up some sort of signage to give directions for the people visiting the hospital.
He suggested that people who visit the GMC for treatment be given smart cards so that the authorities could come to know whether the patients are Goan or non-Goan. He felt that initially even voters cards can be used and if a person was from out of the state, he can be charged a minimum amount.

Give the people who come from our good treatment but charge them while our people should be given the best of treatment free or at concessional rates, he said.
Mr Pratapsing Rane inaugurated the 20-mt wide and 62-mt-long subway, which runs under the NH17 opposite the GMC. The subway also has a provision of 24 commercial shops of 9 sq mts each.

Stating that the vision of the government is to provide good healthcare to the people of Goa, the Health Minister said that within 15 to 20 days outsourcing of facilities like the radiology would be finalised at the North Goa district hospital and would be soon available to the people.