Team Goemkarponn
CHICALIM: Health Minister Vishwajit Rane said that the Chicalim sub-district hospital requires urgent upgradation in terms of specialist doctors, manpower and support staff to ensure that people across Mormugao taluka receive comprehensive healthcare services closer to home.
Rane was speaking to reporters after inaugurating a wellness centre in Vasco in the presence of Vasco MLA Krishna Salkar, Mormugao Municipal Council chairperson Girish Borker and other dignitaries. He said sustained demands have been made by elected representatives from Mormugao taluka to strengthen the hospital, and the government is actively working towards addressing the gaps.
“Chicalim sub-district hospital needs to be upgraded in terms of doctors, staff, manpower and medical specialties so that people from the entire Mormugao taluka get maximum benefit. MLAs and ministers from this taluka have consistently demanded additional staff and more specialist doctors, and we are trying our best to make this available,” Rane said.
The minister admitted that availability of specialists remains a challenge but said multiple steps are being taken to overcome the shortage. “It is not always easy, but we have moved fresh proposals. Wherever doctors are available, we will bring them on board. Whether they are local doctors or doctors from neighbouring states, we are trying to rope them in. We have also decided to increase the pay scale for doctors willing to join government service in different specialties so that we can introduce more specialised departments at the sub-district hospital,” he said.
Speaking about the newly inaugurated wellness centre, Rane said the initiative is aimed at reducing pressure on health centres and hospitals by providing basic diagnostics and medicines at the local level. “These wellness centres are set up so that people do not have to rush to a health centre for every small issue. Our focus is to ensure maximum benefit to the public,” he said.
He assured that medicine supply at the wellness centre would be adequate and uninterrupted. “We will make sure that medicines, including insulin, are always available. This centre is not opened for name’s sake. It has been started with a clear purpose of serving people,” Rane said.
Highlighting the facilities, the minister said the centre has been equipped with ECG machines and blood diagnostic systems. “Anyone can walk in, get an ECG done, check for heart-related or other health issues and collect medicines that are provided free of cost by the government to registered patients. This is about early detection and timely care,” he added.
Vasco MLA Krishna Salkar welcomed the initiative and said strengthening healthcare infrastructure in the constituency has been a long-standing demand. MMC chairperson Girish Borker also said the wellness centre would be of great assistance to residents, particularly senior citizens and patients requiring regular monitoring.
