Health Minister Vishwajit Rane on Sunday apologised to the Vasco man, whose video went viral on social media, and called for an inquiry into the matter.
Speaking to a local channel, (not goempkarponn.com), Rane said that people of Vasco that they need not panic due to one isolated incident.
“My team has reached out to this person who had this problem. I have asked for a report from Goa Medical College. But the issue is now that the doctors have also started testing positive for COVID19,” he stated.
He said the government will not allow discrimination in Goa Medical College and the incident report will be sent to me by evening.
“Now we decided to have two screening OPDs. We have to see that anybody who enters GMC has to be thoroughly screened. If a person is asymptomatic he will have to go to screening OPD, while symptomatic will come to the flu OPD,” he informed.
Further,, he said, each and every individual who comes to Goa Medical College will be thoroughly screened and only then they will be given slip to go to the casualty or any other department.
On the Vasco incident, he said, there is no question of discrimination, “we know the people have faced problems and I apologise for it and I am going to go to the bottom of it to see exactly what it is.”
In the same breath, he also added, “we all have to understand CVIID19 has created fear in the minds of every individual whether it is a doctor or anyone “
As announced earlier, the State government has now issued orders directing all private hospitals to reserve 20 p.c of beds in ICUs for COVID19 patients.
As per the order issued by the Director of Health Services Jose D’Sa, those who fail to comply will be strictly dealt with.
“In exercise of the powers conferred under the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, vide notification no. 23/20/2014-1/PHD/Part IV/553 dated 13/03/2020 Government of
Goa, issues the following directives,” the order says.
1. All private hospitals in Goa with ICU facilities must mandatorily reserve 20 % of their beds for COVID positive patients.
2. If any private hospital does not comply with this condition within 3 days, their licenses granted to operate could be suspended / cancelled.
3. The private hospitals should share with DHS the rates being charged from COVID positive patients for treatment/ accommodation / room charge / other procedures.
“The above directives come in force with immediate effect,” the order says.
However, the order has not gone well with the private hospitals, who says many of them just have 2-4 ICU beds.
“How can we keep COVID patients with the other patients in same room. The order has been issued without application of mind,” said one doctor, on condition of anonymity.
The decision of the government to reserve 20% beds in every private hospital in Goa has created panic and fear in the minds of the people. Is government trying to take Covid to every hospital bed, questioned Leader of Opposition Digambar Kamat.
He asked the government how safe will be the other patients if Covid patients are admitted in small hospitals in Goa.
The government needs to come out with a concrete action plan on handling of Covid pandemic in Goa. I am now issuing a final ultimatum to the government to release White Paper on Covid pandemic in Goa.
Leader of Opposition Digambar Kamat also sought to know why government is not making the optimum use of South Goa District Hospital. He said that Chief Minister should take up the matter with the Prime Minister and immediately get money from PM Care Fund to make all the facilities in the hospital fully operational.
He said that government should take all the stakeholders into confidence and try to identify one hospital in each District and designate the same as Covid Care Hospital. The general order issued by the government has resulted in creating fear and panic in the minds of people. There are some hospitals which are non-operational; the government can take over such hospitals for Covid care.
Digambar Kamat also raised questions about the preparedness of the government on handling Covid in Goa. He has raised questions on the status of 200 ventilators which were ordered by the government as per the statement made by the Chief Minister. He also questioned the government over creation of 20000 quarantine facility as claimed by the Chief Minister almost 2 months back. The current situation gives scope for everyone to believe that the government did not do anything during the 40 days Lockdown period.
Most of the hospitals in Goa are comparatively small with hardly 3 to 4 beds in the ICU’s. The room capacity of the hospitals is hardly 10 to 15 rooms in such hospitals. I was contacted by the people across the State who have expressed concerns on the government decision. The people seeking treatment in hospitals catering to gynaecology, eye care and general surgeries and medicine wards will feel unsafe and insecure to get admitted in the hospitals if they know that Covid patients are admitted there.
“ATAL SETU opened in a hurry”, develops huge potholes
Within two years of inauguration the much celebrated Atal Setu built at a cost of Rs 850 cr, has shown signs of degradation.
On Sunday, pictures went viral on social media about the two major potholes on Panjim- Mapusa, side of the bridge
Also, the work on approach road, which had started during first lockdown is yet to be completed.
Speaking to goemkarponn.com, Goa infrastructure Development Corporation vice-chairman, Joshua D’Souza said that the corporation awaiting the weather to subside.
“We are seized of the matter and trying to do our best but repairs cannot be undertaken in the heavy rains” he said.
Sources in the GSIDC told goemkarponn.com that the main reason for the situation was the hurry in which bridge was inaugurated.
“There was no proper curing period. The bridge was inaugurated in a hurry that is why the tar is giving way,” said a top official in GSIDC.
D’Souza when questioned again about the curing period did not want to comment but said the repairs were carried out in summer.
On the approach road he said the work is almost completed and date of restarting the segment will be decide soon.
The bridge was inaugurated by former chief minister Manohar Parrikar in January 2019.