Team Goemkarponn
PERNEM: In the picturesque setting of Pernem, a controversy has unfolded around the Tuem Hospital, a facility built with an investment exceeding ₹80 crore.
The Tuem Hospital Action Committee is at the forefront of this issue, opposing the potential relocation of the existing Community Health Centre (CHC) to the new hospital premises and its proposed upgrade to a sub-district hospital.
Their concerns arose after Health Minister Vishwajit Rane announced plans to relocate the CHC, which the committee argues undermines the original purpose of the hospital—providing enhanced health services linked to the Goa Medical College.
The committee emphasizes that the new facility was envisioned by former Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar as a 100-bed hospital linked to Goa Medical College. This vision was supported by then-Health Minister Laxmikant Parsekar.
The hospital’s construction was completed, but its operationalization has been delayed, leading to public protests.
The action committee, comprising local residents and activists like Advocate Prasad Shahapurkar, demanded that the hospital be linked to the Bambolim Hospital instead, ensuring alignment with the original plan.
Notably, the Goa Medical College has been involved in similar initiatives elsewhere, such as the upgrading of the Tuem health centre in Pernem to a rural medical centre. These developments highlight the state’s efforts to enhance health infrastructure, yet they also underscore the complexities of balancing community needs with policy decisions.
MLA Jit Arolkar has clarified that the hospital’s inauguration is planned in conjunction with Bambolim Hospital, contrary to the plans for relocating the CHC. The infrastructure has not yet been officially handed over to the hospital management. The controversy has sparked intense debate about governance and the fulfilment of commitments made by previous administrations.
