A medical college and ICU department have been planned for South Goa district hospital.
MARGAO
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant made a host of announcements in his budget speech to tone up the health infrastructure in Margao, including a medical college and ICU department at the South Goa district hospital, an Ayush Integrated hospital, a nursing college and a new PHC at Cuncolim.
Though the Chief Minister did not shed light on the nature of the medical college proposed at the South Goa district hospital, the announcement made by Health Minister Vishwajit Rane earlier in the day on the floor of the House to set up a private medical college under the Niti Ayog indicated that the proposed medical college is likely to be set up under the PPP mode. There had been opposition in the past to the proposal of housing a private medical college at the South Goa district hospital on the plea that government space should not be leased out to the private health players.
Interestingly, the Chief Minister did not shed light on the location of the proposed nursing college, even as officials of the Directorate of Health services indicated that the nursing college may function at the old Hospicio heritage building left vacant by the shifting of the medical services to the district hospital.
As far as the commissioniong of the Ayush Integrated hospital in South Goa by December 2023 is concerned, work on 50-bedded Ayush hospital atop the Monte Hill at the TB hospital complex is nearing completion. Work on the 5-bedded Ayush hospital was launched by Union Ayush Minister Sripad Naik a couple of years ago.
The proposed PHC at Cuncolim, which is presently housing a sub-health centre, sources said, was long overdue, since the Municipal area, which is presently coming under the Balli PHC, was eligible for an independent Health Centre.
Earlier in the day, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane had announced on the floor of the House that the government is contemplating to tap the Niti Ayog scheme of linking private colleges with district hospitals through the PPP mode. The Health Minister felt that the arrangement with a private medical college will help the government to tide over the manpower crunch and also get additional seats in medicine for Goan students.
