NT NETWORK
PANAJI
The opposition benches on Friday cornered the treasury benches over the issue of failure of the government to provide proper medicines to the patients, at the Goa Medical College and Hospital, just as Deputy Chief Minister Francis D’Souza admitted that some problems do exist at the GMC. He, however, said that at least 90 per cent of these problems would be solved once the Deen Dayal Swasthya Seva Yojana, a statewide health insurance scheme is rolled out on August 15, later this month.
D’Souza, who also holds the Health portfolio, further assured the state legislative assembly, during the Question Hour that he would inquire into the allegations of independent MLA from Fatorda Vijai Sardesai that one Hemant is regularly collecting blood samples from patients at the GMC and getting them tested from the private pathological laboratories.
Earlier, Cumbharjua MLA Pandurang Madkaikar alleged that many medicines are not available with the GMC and the doctors force the patients to purchase them from outside, further citing examples of medicines like diabetes
drug metformin, cholesterol drugs namely Triostin and Amoxicillin, and the acidity correcting Antacid, which are not in the stock of the premier state hospital.
Stating that more than one drug is used for every ailment, the Deputy Chief Minister said that every year the government purchases Rs 25 crore to Rs 30 crore worth of medicines. “The government floats a tender as per the national list of essential medicines in India,” D’Souza added, pointing out that since past 2-3 years, the government has started the common purchase of medicines for GMC as well as the directorate of health services. He also observed that whenever additional medicines are required, local purchases are made, which require at least 24 hours.
Speaking further, D’Souza said that the full dose of immunoglobulin, a cancer drug, comprising of 20 vials costs Rs 2 lakh to Rs 3.5 lakh, and as per a circular, the GMC cannot spend more than Rs 1 lakh on the medicines of a patient. “However, once the Deen Dayal Swasthya Seva Yojana starts functioning, these problems would be solved,” he hoped.
Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar, speaking on the occasion said that around 3,000 to 3,500 patients are treated at the GMC regularly. “The Deen Dayal Swasthya Seva Yojana is not for the benefit of the private hospitals, but for the people in general,” he added, informing that the health insurance scheme would be reviewed in March 2017.
It was also informed that the Notice Inviting Tender (NIT) for procurement of medicines to GMC would be uploaded on the government site on August 26, and the technical bids opened on August 30, followed by opening of the financial bids.