Soon, GMC to have new neonatal unit

Panaji: A new 30-bedded neonatal unit at GMC is under way. The civil work is almost complete, and equipment procurement is in process, said health minister Vishwajit Rane in a written reply in the state legislative assembly.

He was responding to a question on steps govt intends to take to ensure adequate quality care for pregnant women, newborn babies, and postnatal patients, including the provision of essential infrastructure like beds, sanitation, incubators, medical equipment, and sufficient staff.When asked whether govt is aware that maternity wards at GMC are currently inadequate in terms of infrastructure, including the availability of sufficient beds and basic medical facilities for expectant mothers, post-delivery patients, and newborn babies, Rane said that govt has adequate infrastructure and basic medical facilities for them. He, however, added that a total of 164 babies were referred to other private hospitals for ventilator support over the past three years. Of these, 65 were referred to other hospitals for ventilator support in 2023, 56 in 2024, and 43 this year.