CANDOLIM: Health Minister Vishwajit Rane, on Saturday, instructed the health officials to submit the proposal for the construction of a new Candolim Primary Health Centre (PHC) building to the government for its approval.
The proposed construction is estimated to cost Rs 10 crore Health Minister Vishwajit Rane was on a visit to the PHC, Candolim to take stock of the health facilities there.
He was accompanied by the health officials and Calangute MLA Michael Lobo, ZP member Shawn Martin, sarpanch of Candolim Sandra Fialho and panchayat members.
The Health Minister was apprised of the pathetic condition of the PHC building, shortage of staff and lack of medical facilities.
Rane went around the PHC and saw for himself pathetic condition of the building.
Initially, the Health Minister was not in favour of a new building for the Candolim PHC as it falls in CRZ, however, after the Calangute MLA assured to take care of the clearance from the GCZMA, he agreed to consider the proposal.
The new PHC will have all medical facilities and it will be 24-bedded, having ground plus two floors
Lobo suggested to the Health Minster to shift the Candolim PHC to Provedoria building so that the old building can be demolished and new building can be constructed, informed the officials, adding it will take at least 2 months to comply with the formalities.
Earlier, the locals asked Rane to provide X-ray machine at the PHC besides making available mini operation theatre, ultrasound facility, thrombus unit, orthopedic and dentistry sections.
Speaking to media, the Health Minister said that the file pertaining to the new building for Candolim PHC will be cleared by this month as it is the need of the hour.
The new PHC that will be catering to the locals as well as tourists visiting the beach belt will have all the modern medical facilities.
Foundation stone for the new building is likely to be laid in September
Lobo said, “We have dynamic Health Minister who has a vision for the healthcare in state. The PHC will be shifted. Till the new building comes up, the people have to co-operate. The PHC building has become old and a new building will be constructed to cater to the needs of 30,000 tourists visiting the area, 70,000 locals, and floating population of 20,000 labourers.”
