Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: A preliminary inquiry into the case of an 11-year-old boy from Sattari who lost his leg following treatment at the Valpoi Community Health Centre (CHC) has revealed serious lapses in medical care, intensifying public outrage and demands for accountability.
The inquiry report, submitted by the Health Officer of Valpoi CHC to the Health Department, stated that a plaster slab was allegedly applied by an MTS staff member acting as an orthopedic assistant without adequate direct supervision or proper documented reassessment.
In the wake of the findings, the Goa government has indefinitely suspended Dr. Yavanti Gawade over alleged medical negligence pending a detailed investigation by a Committee of Experts.
Health Minister Vishwajit Rane also announced financial assistance of ₹25 lakh for the child’s family. He said the compensation would be provided through his personally managed trust.
Additionally, the minister directed the constitution of a high-level committee comprising the Secretary (Health), Director of Health Services (DHS), Health Department Advisor Frezella Araujo, and other senior officials to examine the incident and recommend safeguards to prevent such cases in the future.
The incident has left the family devastated. According to relatives, the boy had suffered injuries after falling from a bicycle and was taken to Valpoi CHC for treatment. The family alleged that the injury was not treated with the urgency required and claimed there was a delay in applying the plaster, which eventually worsened the child’s condition.
The boy’s mother said the family initially believed the injury was minor, but his condition deteriorated rapidly. “He was active and used to play. We never imagined we would come home like this,” the grieving family said.
Relatives said they are now focused on the boy’s recovery and long-term care while also seeking accountability for what they described as a preventable tragedy. They further alleged that timely and proper medical intervention could have changed the outcome.
The case has triggered widespread concern over treatment standards and supervision at government health centres across Goa, with growing calls for stricter healthcare protocols and accountability within the public medical system.
