PORVORIM: The Goa Assembly witnessed noisy scenes and a heated exchange of words on Thursday over the proposal to start a private medical college at the South Goa District Hospital (SGDH) in Margao. Opposition members walked into the well of the House, protesting the contradictory statements made regarding the proposal.
Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai accused Health Minister Vishwajit Rane of giving conflicting replies about the private medical college proposal. Sardesai stated that in response to his starred question, the Health Minister claimed there was no proposal for a private medical or nursing college. However, in another reply to Leader of the Opposition Yuri Alemao, the Minister acknowledged that the proposal was under consideration by the government, though a final decision had yet to be made. Sardesai highlighted that on March 16 this year, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant announced during a post-cabinet meeting that a private medical college would be established by a Trust on 10,000 square meters of land under the Goa State Urban Development Agency (GSUDA), following a model finalised by NITI Aayog. Sardesai argued that the Minister’s contradictory replies violated Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) guidelines and demanded a clear statement on the proposed medical college. The Minister could be jailed for these contradictory replies, said Sardesai.
In response, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane reiterated that the proposal was still under consideration and assured that he would adhere to CVC guidelines. He also informed the Assembly that administrative approval had been granted for a nursing college in the old premises of Hospicio Hospital, Margao.
Rane stated that the government had not received any proposals to start a branch of the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at SGDH, Margao. “We are creating infrastructure in the hospital for the people of Goa and not to give it to private individuals,” Rane said. Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas raised
concerns about the increasing number of patient referrals from SGDH to Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMC), Bambolim.
The Health Minister responded that 70 to 75 percent of patients were treated at SGDH, with 20 to 25 percent being shifted to GMC for tertiary care. He acknowledged that referrals would continue until all additional facilities were in place at SGDH. He assured the House that he would visit the hospital before August 7 to initiate the process for establishing additional facilities, including a Cath-lab.
Margao MLA Digambar Kamat expressed concern about the facilities and treatment available to the common man at SGDH and sought assurance from the Minister that cardiology and neurology units would be operational at SGDH by December this year.