PANJIM: Goa Forward Party (GFP) President Vijai Sardesai has written to Health Minister Vishwajit Rane to release ‘white paper’ on the plans of new South Goa District Hospital to public within a week.
Sardesai has also seeked to know whether any private entity will be associated with the functioning of the hospital.
“It is common knowledge that the number of Covid positive cases is spiking over the last few days in South Goa and the present situation for the proper medical care of patients is approaching a disaster of unprecedented proportions, because no Covid-specific beds are available in either the ESI Hospital or private hospitals in Margao and around”. said Sardesai
He further said that the fact that all political VIPs and even the Director of Health Services have sought treatment in private hospitals is a sorry comment on the capacity and quality of the Government’s degree of preparedness.
He said, “In these circumstances, it is totally criminal to keep 2 entire floors of the South Goa District Hospital out of the purview of Covid care infrastructure, especially when the common Goemkar desperately needs such facilities to survive this pandemic. In any case, this hospital was meant to be a full-fledged 800-bedded district hospital, and was planned keeping in mind the future requirements of entire South Goa, which it was meant to cater to.”
Sardesai said that any compromise in either the capacity or quality of the health services to be provided will not be tolerated by the people of South Goa.
“There was earlier talk about reserving space for a Nursing Hospital, which the people had objected to. I had also voiced my opposition to reducing even a single bed out of the planned 800 beds. In view of the fact that I represent the Fatorda constituency, and that my constituents have literally sacrificed their land for a song, it is my duty to ensure that their sacrifice for the cause of providing the best possible health care to the citizens of South Goa does not go waste.” he added
Meanwhile, GFP President demands that HM, personally and immediately, issue a categorical statement in this regard about whether any private hospital or any other private entity will be associated with the South Goa District Hospital in any way.
“I also demand that a ‘white paper’ on the plans for the South Goa District Hospital should be made available to the public within a week from today.” Vijai said