Prabhav Naik Submits Memorandum to Health Minister On SGDH

Margao :
The most unfortunate incident of tragic death of Resident of Margao Shridhar alias Shirish Pai Kane has once again brought to the fore inadequate Healthcare Facilities at the South Goa District Hospital (SGDH). Another life was lost due to non-availability of advanced Healthcare facilities and well-equipped Ambulance at SGDH on Saturday, 24th August 2024, stated the Memorandum submitted by Citizens of Margao represented by Youth Leader Prabhav Naik to the Health Minister of Goa Vishwajit Rane.

The Memorandum signed by eminent citizens and representatives of various sections of the society from Margao including former MLA Uday Bhembre, Adv. Cleofato Almeida Coutinho, Dr. V V Kamat, former Mayor Ajit Hegde, Radhakant Pai Kane, Mahendra Alvares, Deep Karapurkar, Vinod Shirodkar and others further stated that despite consistent demand from the Citizens as well as the Elected Representatives, Government has failed to make SGDH fully operational.

There is urgent need to ensure that the Intensive Care Unit is made fully functional with advanced Equipments and Gadgets. There is a need to set up a Neurosurgery Unit, Cath Lab, Trauma Unit and also establish other Healthcare Facilities with adequate manpower resources.

We have learnt that there are 173 vacant posts in SGDH and currently there are 193 Staff who are working on Contract/ Bond/NHM basis. The percentage of Vacancies has increased from 20% to about 27% in last one year. Government needs to immediately fill all the vacancies and appoint the Staff on regular basis which will ensure accountability and responsibility of each staff, states the Memorandum.

The Vacancies include Posts of Medical Superintendent cum Deputy Director, Senior Paediatrician, Senior Surgeons, Medico Legal Officer, and various Junior Posts of Physicians, Anaesthetist, Medical Officers etc. as well as Technicians, MTS. The shortage of Staff is putting additional pressure on the existing workforce resulting in delays in attending Patients etc., stated the Memorandum.

Citizens of Margao have also urged the Health Minister to deploy at least 2 Cardiac Ambulances and 5 other category Ambulances completely dedicated to SGDH. The 108 Ambulance Service is not under the control of SGDH. The standard Operating Procedure (SOP) of the 108 Ambulance Service was the main reason in delay of shifting of Shridhar Pai Kane to Goa Medical College (GMC), stated the Memorandum.

Currently, the South Goa District Hospital has become a “Referral Hospital” with the Government data showing 17425 Referrals in last 4 years and 2389 Referrals just from January to June 2024. SGDH has transferred 71 Patients this year to Private Hospitals, Citizens have pointed in the said Memorandum submitted to the Health Minister.

We appeal to you to make a visit to the SGDH along with our Representatives which will help you as well as the Citizens to gather the first hand information on the issues faced by the patients and their relatives. Government also needs to take steps to make optimum utilization of the vacant space at the SGDH, demanded Citizens of Margao.

We also demand that you should constitute a High Level Committee to investigate the Referrals made from SGDH to GMC and Private Hospitals. There needs to be an inquiry on the delay in shifting of Patients from SGDH to GMC; especially Shridhar Pai Kane on 24th August 2024 at night, the Memorandum stated.

We hope you will look into the matter and take proactive steps to provide relief to the citizens especially Patients and their relatives who visit South Goa District Hospital, urged the Citizens of Margao to the Health Minister Vishwajit Rane in the memorandum.