Goa Medical College situated in Bambolim is Government Medical College and Hospital in Goa and is one of the oldest medical colleges in Asia. While Goa’s age-old Medical College is in doldrums, the government is planning to start the private medical college in the state. It’s perhaps the old habit of the Government that builds bridges when the roads are in pathetic condition.
Goa Medical College presently caterers to the large section of the population in Goa with regards to medical health as well as serves as a college to aspiring doctors. But now Goa Health Minister, Vishwajeet Rane, said that Goa will have a private medical college on the lines of the Sardar Vallabhai super specialty hospital in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
He has been informed that the most successful “model” private medical college is the Sardar Vallabhai Patel Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Gujarat, by the Government of India. Rane said that the 100 seats private medical college would be set up at the newly-constructed South Goa District Hospital on Public Private Partnership (PPP) model.
He further stated that he is in touch with the Central Government to set up an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Goa. Rane informed the media that they have shortlisted Price Waterhouse Coopers and Ernst & Young as consultants and one of them would be shortlisted by a committee headed by the health secretary.
Rane further said that the PM Narendra Modi has stated that the number of doctors has to be increased and 75 medical colleges will be set up in the country in the near future. “I don’t want Goa to miss out and it is the right time which will also benefit the people of South Goa as they won’t have to travel all the way to GMC for treatment”, he said.
He pointed out that a small state like Goa has a shortage of doctors and he has submitted paperwork to the Government of India, identifying that the South Goa District Hospital is a perfect place to have a private medical college for Goa.
Rane also stated that the state government is studying ways and means as to how more youth can get seats in medical colleges in the state.
With regards to the Union Government Rules, the hospital in Goa was currently supposed to be a 550-bed hospital and will now be increased to 700 beds. Rane informed that the infrastructure is available and the party to construct the hospital will be shortlisted once the consultants come on board.
Under the PPP model, the state government would hand over 10-acres of land to the private party and the 10 acres opposite the South Goa Hospital has been identified as the place which can be linked to the private medical college.
One hopes that the setting up of a private medical college and hospital in South Goa helps the people who stay in far off places in the South and also creates more medical seats for students aspiring to be doctors and medical researchers.
Source: TOI | India Today | Hindustan Times
