Health facilities in Goa

PANJIM: Not impressed with the State government's tall claims that the state has excellent health facilities, the High Court has orally asked the Amicus curiae, senior counsel Saresh Lotlikar, and petitioner Prakash Sardessai, to make suggestions to improve the health facilities in the government hospitals in the state.

Further, the Division bench of Justice D B Bhosale and Justice NA Britto has also recommended that they look into the aspect of setting up a committee with a lawyer, doctor and architect—to inspect the hospital buildings in the State. The Court also orally observed that in the government hospitals the equipments don't function and the even the doctor, nurses and patient ratio is not adequate.

The Court made this observations in a petition filed in public interest and raises a grievance about the standard of health care in the state, including facilities for treatment in all fields of medical science and super-specialties.


This despite the fact that the Joint Secretary (Health) Dattaram Sardessai in the affidavit filed in the Court, as per the High Court order of August 27, 2007 directing the government to file an affidavit indicating the present status and of improvements to be made – adequacy of staff, medicine, equipment for surgery, aftercare and available beds – in respect of each of the 3 government hospitals, Goa Medical College at Bambolim, Asilo Hospital in Mapusa and Hospicio hospital at Margao, present a rosy picture.


Here is what the affidavit states:



GMC


* Bed strength of 1030

* An additional hospital building being constructed, which will have bed strength of 450.

* Staff strength as per the sanctioned strength and is as per the guidelines of Medical Council of India and Nursing Council of India. Further, additional staff -- doctors, nurses, ward boys, attendants, drivers -- will be recruited for the new hospital block.

* Equipped with all up to date and efficient surgical equipments and other facilties like X-Rays, CT Scanning, Ultrasound etc.

* Patients are supplied medicine free of costs.

* From January to December 2006 there were 4,36,152 outpatients, 50,397 admission and 17,628 operations. For the period from January 2007 to June 2007, there were 2,01,663 outpatients, 25,776 admission and 8,085 operations.

* Hygiene is well maintained with mechanized swiping and sopping



Hospicio Hospital


* Has the sanctioned staff strength and periodical review carried out to assess the staff requirement.

* Proposal with the Government to construct new district hospital at Margao, which will have a capacity of 450 beds.

* Medicines supplied free of cost

* Provided with all required equipments for surgery in all departments.

* Testing machine like X-Ray, Ultrasound, C.T. Scanning available in the hospital

* Bed strength is 250 beds.


Asilio Hospital


* Staff strength as per sanctioned and there is periodical review to assess the staff strength.

* Asilio Hospital has bed strength of 190.

* Another new District Hospital will be constructed in Mapusa. It will be made operational by end of this year. Steps are already taken to recruit the staff. It will have a bed strength of 30.

* Has necessary surgical equipment facilities as well as CT scan, X-Ray, ultra sound etc
HEALTH CENTRES

* One Cottage Hospital at Chicalim, 5 community health centers at Sanvordem­ Curchorem, Canacona, Ponda, Valpoi and Pernem and 13 primary health centers are well staffed and for every PHC there is a doctor and nurses besides the attendant and compounders.