‘Aim is to take healthcare to people’s doorsteps’
Margao: Health Minister Vishwajit Rane announced on Saturday that the state is working towards introducing mobile clinics in every constituency to provide accessible medical testing facilities and detect health issues at an early stage.
Speaking at the launch of a free mega medical camp organised in Nuvem by the state government in collaboration with the Goa Medical College (GMC) and Goa Dental College, Rane said, “We are working on the concept of mobile clinics. This initiative, which aligns with the vision of the Prime Minister, is already being implemented in several states, and we aim to bring it to Goa as well. The plan is to have doctors available in every constituency, allowing for rotations at the panchayat level. This will help us identify health issues early and understand the community’s needs.”
Rane explained that identified patients would be referred to the South Goa District Hospital (SGDH) and the GMC for further care.
The initiative is part of the government’s effort to prevent advanced medical conditions, ensuring that health concerns, particularly cancers, are detected in a timely manner.
“We are focused on bringing healthcare to people’s doorsteps. We have started mapping diseases across the talukas and are assessing community needs through various areas, including health and women and child welfare. The government is taking preventive measures through these camps, which help give blood tests,” Rane added.
The minister also emphasised the importance of covering every corner of the constituencies and addressing palliative care needs.
“We are working on forming a dedicated team to assist society in the area,” he said.
On the SGDH, Rane said the hospital is roping in more specialist doctors, and that plans are underway to expand the fleet of ambulances across the state.
“We have discovered that some drivers are causing ambulances at the North Goa District Hospital to remain non-operational. Such people do not deserve to be in government service, and we will be suspending them. We are working to bring ambulances under the 108 service with an advanced monitoring system. By increasing the number of ambulances, we aim to reduce response times by at least seven minutes,” he stated.
The free medical camp offered consultations in general medicine, gynaecology, orthopaedics, surgery, ENT, ophthalmology, dental care, and more.
Special screenings for breast and cervical cancer, diabetes, wellness sessions, as well as AYUSH services and ABHA health ID generation, were also provided.
