Goa may invoke Epidemic Act if flu doesn’t abate globally by Oct: Rane
TNN
PANAJI: Goa will invoke the Epidemic Control Act, 1897 if the swine flu pandemic doesn’t abate by September-end, health minister Vishwajit Rane
said on Wednesday. “Before the tourism season starts, we will review the worldwide situation and if it doesn’t improve, we will invoke ECA,” said Rane.
Rane’s announcement comes a day after the Maharashtra government invoked the act in Pune and Satara districts. “Maharashtra invoked it because there are thousands of international guests arriving at its (Mumbai) airport. We don’t feel it is required in Goa at the moment, but once the tourist season starts we will receive many international tourists,” said Rane.
August 6, 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Thursday, August 06, 2009
Paramedics to boost state's health set-up
Paramedics to boost state's health set-up
TNN
PANAJI: Goa will be the first state in the country to have paramedics posted in ambulances and emergency rooms in rural dispensaries. They will
also help casualty doctors at the two district hospitals and at the Goa Medical College and Hospital, Bambolim.
Announcing this at the launch of paramedical services in the state on Wednesday, health minister Vishwajit Rane said, "We are the first state in the country to have paramedical staff in ambulances and emergency rooms. The concept of emergency rooms where patients will be stabilized and then taken for further treatment, is also a new one in India and will prove to be really beneficial for cardiac emergency patients." He added that emergency rooms will be set up and the casualty wards in the two district hospitals and GMC will be strengthened with the help of paramedics.
The Goa government has tied up with the Emergency Management and Research Institute (EMRI) that presently runs the 108 emergency service in the state, for the paramedic service. Thirty paramedics will start work in the next week at five emergency rooms in the state, ambulances, district hospitals and the GMC casualty ward.
In the first phase, five emergency rooms will be set up at Canacona, Curchorem, Chicalim, Sanquelim and Candolim. In the second phase, emergency rooms will be set up in the urban centres at Panaji and Siolim.
Chief minister Digambar Kamat said, "If the patient is given treatment on time then 50% of grievances against the health services will be solved. With paramedical staff, people will once again be reassured that the state is concerned about people's health."
Incidentally, it has been time and again alleged that Goa lacks basic facilities in government hospitals, especially in rural areas. Accepting the problem, Rane said, "We are trying to address each and every issue and we are trying to improve the situation in rural areas. We are putting up state of the art infrastructure."
The paramedics have done a two-year course with EMRI and have had six months of internship at hospital and ambulance services across the country, Rajesh Waghmare, EMRI in-charge in Goa said. "With paramedical staff being deployed in emergency rooms and ambulances we will be able to save patients within the golden hour. At present we save 250 lives per month and now with these facilities in place, we expect to save a minimum of 500 lives in a month." Goa also plans to set-up a training centre for paramedics in the state with EMRI's help.
To a question on whether the paramedics are from Goa and whether they are well versed in the local language, Rane said they would be given a month and a half's training in communication to enable them to communicate in the local language. But I must admit that I don't like being asked whether the paramedical staff are Goans or non-Goans. They are all Indians and their job is to save lives and when you are saving life, communication is not an issue," he said.
Rane refused to divulge the exact amount being spent by the government to set up emergency rooms and appoint paramedical staff. "Where people's lives are concerned, we shouldn't count the amount," he said.
6 August 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
TNN
PANAJI: Goa will be the first state in the country to have paramedics posted in ambulances and emergency rooms in rural dispensaries. They will
also help casualty doctors at the two district hospitals and at the Goa Medical College and Hospital, Bambolim.
Announcing this at the launch of paramedical services in the state on Wednesday, health minister Vishwajit Rane said, "We are the first state in the country to have paramedical staff in ambulances and emergency rooms. The concept of emergency rooms where patients will be stabilized and then taken for further treatment, is also a new one in India and will prove to be really beneficial for cardiac emergency patients." He added that emergency rooms will be set up and the casualty wards in the two district hospitals and GMC will be strengthened with the help of paramedics.
The Goa government has tied up with the Emergency Management and Research Institute (EMRI) that presently runs the 108 emergency service in the state, for the paramedic service. Thirty paramedics will start work in the next week at five emergency rooms in the state, ambulances, district hospitals and the GMC casualty ward.
In the first phase, five emergency rooms will be set up at Canacona, Curchorem, Chicalim, Sanquelim and Candolim. In the second phase, emergency rooms will be set up in the urban centres at Panaji and Siolim.
Chief minister Digambar Kamat said, "If the patient is given treatment on time then 50% of grievances against the health services will be solved. With paramedical staff, people will once again be reassured that the state is concerned about people's health."
Incidentally, it has been time and again alleged that Goa lacks basic facilities in government hospitals, especially in rural areas. Accepting the problem, Rane said, "We are trying to address each and every issue and we are trying to improve the situation in rural areas. We are putting up state of the art infrastructure."
The paramedics have done a two-year course with EMRI and have had six months of internship at hospital and ambulance services across the country, Rajesh Waghmare, EMRI in-charge in Goa said. "With paramedical staff being deployed in emergency rooms and ambulances we will be able to save patients within the golden hour. At present we save 250 lives per month and now with these facilities in place, we expect to save a minimum of 500 lives in a month." Goa also plans to set-up a training centre for paramedics in the state with EMRI's help.
To a question on whether the paramedics are from Goa and whether they are well versed in the local language, Rane said they would be given a month and a half's training in communication to enable them to communicate in the local language. But I must admit that I don't like being asked whether the paramedical staff are Goans or non-Goans. They are all Indians and their job is to save lives and when you are saving life, communication is not an issue," he said.
Rane refused to divulge the exact amount being spent by the government to set up emergency rooms and appoint paramedical staff. "Where people's lives are concerned, we shouldn't count the amount," he said.
6 August 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
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