It is very unfortunate and highly deplorable that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has made a U-turn and now directed that the Old Ribandar Hospital premises be given to the Ayush Ministry.
In October last year he had assured us that medical facilities would be restored there with the setting up of a Health Centre. On the same day Health Minister Vishwajit Rane along with Panaji MLA Babush Monserrate visited the premises and announced that a 30 bedded Health center would commence jointly run by the Directorate of Health Services and the Goa Medical College while it would be gradually expanded to be a full fledged Hospital.
Our proposed Health Center file was approved by the Health Minister six months ago but was stalled by the Chief Minister due to opposition from Union Ayush Minister Shripad Naik who wants his Ayush Center there. It is an irony that Shripad Naik despite being a resident of Ribandar has been against the Health Center and should have at least now realized that after his car accident earlier this year, it was not Ayush treatment but the medical expertise at the Goa Medical College that came to his rescue.
During the CCP elections in March this year Babush Monserrate had solemnly promised us that the Health Center at the Old Ribandar Hospital would be a reality before this monsoon. He and his three Ribandar CCP Councillors are now accountable to that promise made.
Restoring Health care facilities at the Old Ribandar hospital would ease the burden on GMC at Bambolim which has reached a saturation point. This Medical care facilities would be of immense service for the people of Ribandar and neighbouring Chimbel, Merces, Old Goa and the residents in the Island of Divar.
The Government would be well advised not to pursue any needless Ayush project there but to have a Health center as earlier proposed. If Health Care facilities are restored at the Old Ribandar Hospital which is Asia’s first medical school it would be a remarkable achievement for this government which otherwise has been faltering on all fronts.
