Blood Transfusion Services at Goa Medical College
By Dr Roque Wiseman Pinto
Professor of Pathology
Former Head of Department (2003–2024)
Former Dean, Goa University (2018–2021)
President, South Asian Academy of Cytopathology and Histopathology
Chairman, International Affairs Committee (IAC)
India’s Representative at the International Academy of Cytology, European Federation of Cytology Societies, and Asian Federation of Cytology Societies
Chairman, International Conferences and CMEs in Goa
—
From 19 December 1961 to 29 May 1987, Goa, Daman and Diu functioned as a Union Territory of India. Goa attained statehood on 30 May 1987.
I recall reading this historic news in a national newspaper while travelling by train from Delhi to Bombay. I had been to PGIMER, Chandigarh, to attend a CME in Hematology. Those were times before social media and the internet, when news travelled differently and often carried a sense of quiet significance.
This article attempts to document the health officials and health ministers who served Goa during the Union Territory period and after statehood.
Among those who held key positions were Alban Couto, IAC Development Commissioner; Dayanand Bandodkar; V.S. Karmali; Shashikala Kakodkar; Shaikh Hassan Haroon; Dr Kashinath Jhalmi, an alumnus of Goa Medical College and a general practitioner from Marcel; Pandurang Raut; Dr Wilfred De Sousa, MS, FRCS (Edinburgh), a leading consultant surgeon in GMC, Health Services, and private practice, widely regarded as one of Goa’s finest surgeons of his time; Francisco Sardinha; Dayanand Narvekar; Alban Couto, IAS Advisor to the Governor of Goa; Pratapsing R. Rane; Laxmikant Parsekar; Francis D’Souza; and Vishwajit Rane.
As part of my research into the history of medicine in Goa, I studied the biosketches of Dayanand Bandodkar and V.S. Karmali. With most of the others, I had the privilege of direct interaction during my tenure at Goa Medical College. Many of them also consulted me as patients for biopsies, diagnostic investigations, and expert opinions.
Over the years, I met them at the Old Secretariat in Adil Shah’s Palace, the New Secretariat at Porvorim, and at various official and social venues where meetings were held. Many of these distinguished individuals are no longer with us.
A defining moment in my career came in 1987, when I was appointed Head of the Blood Bank at Goa Medical College. For the first time, a Lecturer in Pathology was made the independent Head of the Blood Bank, reporting directly to the Dean. I assumed this responsibility at the age of 28. This role gave me early administrative and organisational experience in a public-facing institution that was frequently in the news and constantly engaged with the community.
During my tenure, I received invaluable guidance from Dr G.J.S. Abraham, the Dean, and from my respected teacher in Pharmacology. I also remain grateful to the then Health Secretary, Ms Neeru Nanda, IAS, for her support and encouragement.
It is important to acknowledge that many of the Medical Officers working in the Blood Bank at that time were senior to me in age and experience. Despite this, we shared a strong and respectful professional relationship. These included Dr Alvaro Pereira, Dr Alexio Xavier Martins, Dr J. Lawande, Dr V.S.N. Rao, and later Dr Vijay Laxmi Rangaraju.
The working environment at the Blood Bank in Panjim and Ribandar was largely cooperative and supportive, although the nature of the work often brought stress and challenges.
I extend my sincere gratitude to all colleagues, including Medico-Social Workers, clerical staff, technicians, Class IV staff, voluntary blood donors, camp organisers, clinicians, well-wishers, and the media for their continued support.
During this period, I also organised several academic programmes within the Blood Bank. Alongside transfusion services, I continued to provide diagnostic expertise in histopathology and cytopathology.
I would also like to acknowledge the staff of GSACS, as well as the Accounts Department, where many who worked with us have today risen to positions such as Deputy Directors of Accounts at the Secretariat in Porvorim.
My thanks also extend to the Directors and staff of the Food and Drugs Administration, including Desiderio Costa Frias, Tripathy, Saleem Veljee, and their teams for their cooperation.
In the Public Health Department, Lino Pais Menezes and Celina were particularly supportive. At that time, the department functioned from the Old Secretariat and Junta House.
During my tenure, we encountered the first HIV-positive case in a blood donor. In those days, ELISA testing was done at GMC, while confirmatory Western Blot testing was conducted at NIV Pune. This period also saw the formulation of HIV/AIDS policy, which was challenged in the High Court by Advocate K. Grover along with several NGOs, ultimately leading to important legal and public health outcomes.
In later years, I continued to oversee Blood Bank services through the Department of Pathology. In June 2003, under Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar and Dean Dr V.G. Dhume, I was appointed Professor of Pathology and again Head of the Blood Bank.
During this phase, initiatives such as World Blood Donor Day and National Voluntary Blood Donation Day were actively observed. The Blood Bank saw expansion in infrastructure, recruitment of new staff, and acquisition of modern equipment. In recent years, it has undergone further modernisation and upgradation.
At present, the Blood Bank is managed by Dr Sangeeta Amonkar, Associate Professor, and Dr Merline Augustine, Assistant Professor, along with residents and supporting staff.
The Government of Goa has proposed a separate Blood Bank building behind the Super Speciality Block at Bambolim, which would be a significant step forward.
In 2017, I proposed the establishment of an independent Department of Transfusion Medicine. This idea was supported by the then Health Minister Vishwajit Rane, recognising its importance for patient care, especially with the expansion of super-speciality services at GMC.
The Department of Immunohematology and Blood Transfusion Medicine was officially recognised by the National Medical Commission on 11 January 2023. On that day, I was serving as Dean of Goa Medical College, as well as Medical Superintendent and Director of IPHB.
Coincidentally, the same day saw a surprise NMC inspection covering undergraduate, postgraduate, and super-speciality programmes. Two new MD courses and departments were formally established: Immunohematology and Blood Transfusion Medicine, headed by Dr M.V. Mallya, and Geriatric Medicine, headed by Dr Edwin Gomes. These developments have significantly strengthened medical services and education in Goa.
I was also deputed by the Government of Goa to inspect Asilo Hospital and Hospicio Hospital to assess the feasibility of establishing blood banks in these institutions.
Today, North Goa District Hospital and South Goa District Hospital have independent blood banks, while Sub-District Hospital Ponda has a storage centre. Manipal Hospital, Dona Paula, operates an independent blood bank. SMRC Vasco once had a blood bank, which I had inspected, though it is currently non-functional.
Several private hospitals continue to rely on the Goa Medical College Blood Bank for supply. Over the decades, the GMC Blood Bank has played a crucial role in saving the lives of lakhs of patients.
This journey reflects not only institutional growth but also the collective effort of countless individuals who contributed to building and sustaining transfusion services in Goa.
