Indeed, it is a matter of grave concern that the three-member Committee blamed only the Goa Medical College, saying it did not raise any alarm bells or send any letter or communication on the shortage of Oxygen.
Why did the three-member Committee which nailed M/s Scoop for the Oxygen chaos in GMC not blame the Government or the Health Minister Vishwajit Rane?
The Committee said that in June 2018, the decision of the Public Health department to extend the scope of work awarded to M/s Scoop to all across the State of Goa resulted in the creation of a single supplier for all the public health institutions.
SURAJ NANDREKAR
Editor, Goemkarponn
The Goa Medical College Oxygen crisis and subsequent deaths of innocent Goans have become much-needed fodder for the Opposition ahead of the forthcoming 2022 Assembly polls.
The government-appointed three-member Committee to look into the Oxygen shortage, headed by Director IIT Dr BK Mishra, former GMC Dean Dr VN Jindal and Secretary Urban Development Tariq Thomas, submitted its 35-page report.
The Opposition used the three-member committee report only to target Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant.
Agreed, as the head of the State, the chief minister is responsible for any wrong in any government departments in the State.
However, what about the minister? Is he not responsible?
Indeed, it is a matter of grave concern that the three-member Committee blamed only the Goa Medical College, saying it did not raise any alarm bells or send any letter or communication on the shortage of Oxygen.
Why did the three-member Committee which nailed M/s Scoop for the Oxygen chaos in GMC not blame the Government or the Health Minister Vishwajit Rane?
The Committee said that in June 2018, the decision of the Public Health department to extend the scope of work awarded to M/s Scoop to all across the State of Goa resulted in the creation of a single supplier for all the public health institutions.
“After this extension, the health institutions had no alternative source of Oxygen in case of emergency. As GMC’s oxygen demand rose, M/s Scoop stopped supplying Oxygen to the other public hospitals, except GMC, without any warning, letter or message,” the report says.
Even in June 2020, GMC tried to put the archaic trolley based system in the newly built Super Specialty Block where the LMO tank was already installed.
“However, even in this tender, only M/s Scoop was technically qualified, and other bidders were disqualified. Fortunately, now the tender has been cancelled,” it says.
So why did the Committee stop short of blaming the Health Minister, who was instrumental in the appointment of M/s Scoop for Oxygen supplies throughout Goa? Rane not only appointed M/s Scoop but was also the reason for the closure of M/s Govind Poi’s Oxygen plant.
What is shocking is despite the Oxygen mess, Rane had almost finalised M/s Scoop as a supplier for HMC Super Speciality Block. The tender floated was such that only M/s Scoop qualified for the contract.
The Opposition blaming CM is right, but why no word on the HM? Simply because they are in good books with HM? Or has he promised some jobs ahead of elections?
Right from Oxygen to the Ventilator scam to the COVID19 purchases or Dental College job scam, the Opposition has conveniently ignored the wrong-doings of the Health Minister as it suits their purpose.
Be it Leader of Digambar Kamat, MGP’s Sudin Dhavalikar, Vijai Sardesai and Rohan Khaunte; they are doing their best to protect the health minister as much as possible as they see him as a potential ally post-2022 elections.
The Oxygen shortage issue is criminal negligence, wherein over three thousand innocent Goans have lost their lives. The Chief Minister must hand over the three-member report to the Crime Branch to probe to bring out the truth if he feels he is not guilty.
However, teh CM would not do so because he is as much responsible for the deaths as the Health Minister and teh GMC Dean, simply because he allowed Rane to do what he wanted or instead did not dare to question the Health Minister.