Tuem hospital is Goa’s first GMC link facility, to open by Jan-end

Mapusa: Health services on Thursday notified Tuem hospital as the link facility of GMC, the first hospital in Goa to get this recognition. The notification came a day after the Tuem Hospital action committee demanded a written assurance, otherwise they would fast unto death from Jan 28.The linkage will strengthen healthcare facilities in North Goa. Initially, the 100-bed hospital has 11 outpatient departments (OPDs) with hospital commissioning by the end of Jan. The notification states that doctors from the GMC and the directorate of health services will be available for consultation.Over the past few months, the action committee had intensified its protest. Convener Jose Lobo and member Prasad Shahapurkar threatened to fast unto death, insisting they will not merely accept shifting the existing community health centre (CHC) to the new facility.Mandrem MLA Jit Arolkar on Thursday said the hospital will be commissioned by the end of Jan. “The integration process has been completed, and govt will shortly announce the opening date of the hospital,” Arolkar said.“In the recently concluded winter session of the Goa assembly, health minister Vishwajit Rane assured to commission the hospital by Jan 30,” the MLA said.The hospital, which was built by the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC), was recently handed over to the health services.

An official said the directorate of health services has directed the sanitisation of the premises to operationalise pharmacy, laboratories, and basic OPDs, ahead of the hospital’s commissioning deadline.The GSIDC has floated tenders for the installation of operation theatres, and basic facilities will be offered in the initial stages, as it will likely take at least four months to make them functional, the official said.