Financial crunch puts GMC’s six big projects on hold

PANAJI: Financial crunch has affected the expansion of services and facilities projects planned for the Goa Medical College (GMC) and hospital, Bambolim.
Consequent to the state government’s decision to cut down expenses as part of austerity measures two weeks ago, Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) which handles GMC works has intimated the hospital that six projects, including the extension of administrative block of the college, have been kept in abeyance till May 31, 2021.
A senior GSIDC official said the corporation board recently took this decision after it became clear that new projects will not be granted financial sanction. “Only the ongoing projects will be as per the schedule,” he said.
Another major project that has been on hold is upgradation of neonatal intensive care unit. The construction of a new out patient department (OPD) has been deferred which formed the part of additional infrastructure to be created for the top government-run hospital.
Construction of the independent allied health science college adjacent to the institute of nursing education at Bambolim has also been postponed.
Setting up of the IVI/IVF facility under the department of obstetrics and gynaecology has also been put on hold. More than six month ago, IVI/IVF facility was started in the hospital in a preliminary state and hospital administration was looking forward to expanding it, once the infrastructure was ready.
“It will have to put a break on the expansion plan as the infrastructure will not be ready for a year. I don’t know as to what will be the status of the project a year later. We will have to push it yet again,” a GMC official said.
The hospital’s forensic block morgue which has faced problems since its inception in 2014 will have to wait longer for supply, installation, testing and commissioning of Mopec to make hydraulic trolleys since this plan has been in cold storage till May 31, 2021.
The services of consultants appointed for all six projects have also been suspended by the corporation. The official said all six projects will take more than a year to take off even if the government agrees to execute them a year later.