by Aires Rodrigues
Goa’s Public Health care system is in dire straits. Providing a good public health care system should have been the Government’s priority. But in yet another irrational and flawed move the Manohar Parrikar government is trying to forcibly retire the Dean of Goa Medical College Dr. V.N.Jindal instead of allowing him to continue till 62 as provided by the University rules. This is obviously being done to install their man in the Chair but if Dr Jindal is removed it will be to Goa’s loss.
Repeated political interference by successive state governments has been detrimental to the health of Goa Medical College. As Dean, Dr V. N. Jindal should have had complete autonomy in the management of Goa Medical College. But for the political interference Dr. Jindal's could have ensured a speedy recovery of the health of Goa Medical College. His predecessors have been well-meaning doctors but political meddling in the day to day administration of GMC has over the decades contributed in a big way to its current critical state.
Dr Jindal, a renowned neuro-surgeon himself, has been in Goa long enough and has scanned and mastered the mind set of Goa’s politicians. Dr Jindal has the nerves not to succumb to any undue political interference. With Dr Jindal's efforts GMC could have been moved out of its critical state of chaos and mismanagement. Dr Jindal is soft spoken yet a firm administrator and has all that it takes to administer the right dose to ensure the ailing GMC is set on the road to full recovery.
Political intrusion is the main impediment to the well being of Goa’s government hospitals. The infrastructure at GMC has to improve. It is appalling that operations have to be cancelled due to erratic power and water supply to the hospital. The GMC needs to give priority attention to set right its entry point (casualty) where the patient steps in and the exit point (ICU) from where, currently, in many cases, the patient moves on to the morgue. The casualty and the ICU need more nurses and doctors and equipment that works. While in trauma, time is of essence and a patient cannot be made to languish for hours waiting for treatment, be it at the casualty or ICU.
GMC should aim at providing all the super specialty facilities so that patients should no longer have to travel to Belgaum, Bangalore and Mumbai for medical care that could be provided at Bambolim.
Goa Medical College is not a veterinary hospital. The hospital has to be off limits to stray dogs, cattle, cockroaches and mosquitoes. Will it take a rat to nibble the toes of a VIP for the authorities to awaken to the sad reality? Hospitals and health centers can never compromise on cleanliness and sanitation. Every head of the department should be made responsible and accountable for the overall state of his unit.
There also has to be a consolidated effort to upgrade the facilities at the various government run health centers. A health centre at Ribandar did not have even a thermometer when it was inaugurated a few years ago. It still lacks a toilet and running water. It cannot get any worse.
