Centres referring cases to dist hosps must give reason: Rane

Porvorim: Health minister Vishwajit Rane said that state secretary for health will now monitor on a daily basis the cases from different health centres across Goa being referred to Goa Medical College and other district and sub-district hospitals. Rane said the health centres will have to give reasons and explain why they are referring those cases instead of treating them locally.
“The secretary will monitor this on a 24-hour basis and the medical superintendent and the director of health services will have to email the number of cases that have been referred on each day,” said Rane.
Cuncolim MLA Yuri Alemao said that cases from Cuncolim health centre are being referred to Goa Medical College and South Goa district hospital, which causes a lot of inconvenience to locals.
“If the required facilities were provided at the local health centre itself than this situation would not arise,” said Alemao.
Rane said that auditing of such referring of cases is urgently required and a system for the same will be in place.
“We will do auditing. All cases cannot be referred to district hospitals. I will pay attention as to why this reference is happening for those illnesses which can be treated at the health centre,” the minister said.
Meanwhile, Rane assured to set up a 24x7 emergency service at the Navelim Health Centre.
“There are too many posts vacant at the Navelim Health Centre. I ask the health minister to upgrade the centre into a bedded facility,” said Tuenkar.
Rane said he will visit the centre shortly to inspect the facilities and ascertain the requirements. “We will have to see how to rationalise the resources we have. It has become difficult to get doctors. I will visit the centre. But yes we can have 24x7 emergency centre. It has become a necessity,” the minister said.