Mapusa: Stating that the Margao COVID hospital beds are full, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane said that the government is ready with plan B to tackle the crisis arising out of the pandemic. He said if required we can have a Covid hospital in North Goa.

The Minister was interacting with the media persons after a review meeting at Pernem on Tuesday which was presided over by the Deputy CM Manohar Ajgaonkar along with Health Minister Vishwajit Rane and Mandrem MLA Dayanand Sopte.

Also, administrative officers like deputy collector, Pernem Ravi Shankar Nipanikar, mamlatdar Anant Malik, health officials, DySP Gajanan Prabhudessai and other elected representatives were present.

Interacting with media persons, Rane said that health infrastructure has never seen such pace of development as it has witnessed now and further stressed on the need of outsourcing to reduce burden on the administration to have better delivery of services.

“Currently administrate officials are looking after managing things at a Covid centre including food, hygiene etc. Hence there is a need to outsource to reduce the burden on the administration for which we have been receiving proposals as they are ready to monitor food, hygiene and other things at the centre,” informed Rane.  

He further said that there is a need to use those techniques which are successfully implemented in other states.

On the requirement of upgrading Covid care facilities, Rane informed that the department is procuring more ambulances and is trying to bring more doctors and nurses onboard under NHM Scheme adding, “We are planning to provide more staff and vehicles which will be used for transportation of swab samples to testing centre.”

The Health Minister said that there is a need to do panchayat-level orientation to create awareness among the locals over measures to be taken for prevention.

“Panchayat members are designated officials who have to work in coordination and police are also directed to take action against offenders,” he added.