Margao: Health Minister Vishwajit Rane told the House on Thursday that said the government was taking steps to reduce referrals from South Goa District Hospital (SGDH), Sub District Hospital (SDH) Ponda, and North Goa District Hospital (NGDH) Asilo, Mapusa to Goa Medical College (GMC).
He was replying to a LAQ from Opposition Leader Yuri Alemao.
“The SGDH admitted 42,755 patients between April 2024 and March 2025, with 4,683 patients referred to the GMC for further treatment,” said Rane.
He also said that the hospital currently faces a shortage of 187 staff across categories, including multi-tasking staff and nurses.
In response to another LAQ by Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai, Rane said there was a need to increase bed strength by 10 beds each in the male and female medicine wards, along with the required manpower. “In some circumstances, the number of patient admissions is more than the number of available beds in the ward. In an emergency, patients are treated on stretchers and are finally given a bed as soon as one is available,” he said.
Rane said a MoU has been signed with Apollo Victor Hospital for providing super specialist services at SGDH.
“Presently, one nephrologist from Apollo Victor Hospital attends the OPD once a week on Tuesdays on a voluntary basis. One cardiologist from GMC is deputed to SGDH every Thursday. In collaboration with TRICOG, the STEMI project is implemented, critical ECGs are evaluated, and patients are thrombolysed and referred to GMC as required. The ICU at SGDH is functional with necessary infrastructure and a capacity of 9 beds,” he said.
