Step-motherly treatment for
Hospicio Hospital

Dr. Wilfred D’Souza, when he was Health Minister, said that he wanted only one big hospital for Goa - Goa Medical College. Unfortunately, with the arrival of the GMC, the older Hospicio Hospital, the primary hospital for patients in the South, started getting step-motherly treatment and is presently desperately in need of up-dating and refurbishing on the lines of the GMC. A report by CALVERT GONSALVES.

IN 1867, IT WAS when Fr Joao Miranda, a native of Loutolim, saw a destitute man fallen in a ditch at Margao that he decided to start a rest place “HOSPICIO” for the sick and homeless. Initially Fr Joao set up an “ALBERGUE” (home for the aged). Seeing the good work, a good samaritan donated an old house, which is the original Hospicio Building we see today with its entrance from the main road. This entrance is not used anymore for the day to day functioning of the Hospicio. Hospicio Hospital is dedicated to “Sagrade Curasao de Maria”. During those early times and until recently, the funding of the Hospicio was derived from the income of Lotteries. The surplus funds were loaned at 3% per annum and it is because of this that Hospicio has acquired large properties at Navelim due to default in repayment of loans by the Gawas family and at Old Goa- Batim area by the Wagh family.

IN DIRE STRAITS: The hospicio hospital at Margoa needs urgent attention from the government

In 1935 the newly built supplementary branch of the Hospicio known as “SANATORIO” was fully functional as a Tuberculosis (TB) hospital. However since people at that time looked at TB as a curse and an extremely contagious disease with little or no cure, they did not dare to come in contact with those infected. With nurses too scared to work there, the management had to get Catholic nuns from the “Congregation of Bambino” Italy, who were trained nurses. This TB hospital with picturesque surroundings is today a virtual showpiece on the Monte of Margao.

In 1964, the late Dayanand Bandodkar appointed a new committee which was headed by his advisor Advocate Redualdo Costa from Loutolim. The Margao M.L.A, President of Municipality of Margao, Health Officer of Margao Health Center, Chairman of Block Development Officers and a social worker were nominated to the board of directors. It was at this time that major improvements took place. Doctors were appointed, a new blood bank set up etc. on 1st February 1965, the services of all the employees were regularized as per the “Absorbed Employees Act”

Today, Fr. Joao Miranda must be a disappointed soul when he looks down at Hospicio Hospital from up above. The attitude of the staff at Hospicio, apart from being lethargic, is disgraceful. There is a total lack of devotion. The equipment is not used to its potential due to lack of sufficient operators. On the whole, the system is stagnant. The main culprit is the Government. Dr. Wilfred D’Souza, when he was the Health Minister is believed to have said that he only wanted one big hospital for Goa, which is the “Goa Medical College” (GMC). He was not really concerned about the others. Recently a patient complaining of chest pain was rushed to Hospicio at about 9 pm. The lady doctor on duty was away at Panjim without informing the higher ups. When she was finally contacted on the phone, she arrogantly ordered the patient to be shifted to GMC since she would not be returning to Margao. The patient died before the ambulance could arrive. When the Loutolim M.L.A Aleixo Sequeira arrived before midnight, there were another three heart patients in a critical condition who until then were unattended to. Stern intervention by Aleixo compelled the Hospicio authorities to call up Dr Eddie D’Mello who was not on duty that day, following which two patients were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). To make matters worse, the lady doctor is believed to have arrived well past midnight and allegedly issued a Death Certificate certifying the death to have occurred at 9:15 pm. Aleixo later complained to the Government and the complaint seems to have been hushed up since this lady doctor’s husband is a leading doctor in Panjim, according to reliable sources.

Staff Shortage

AT HOSPICIO, there is a huge vacuum in the staff strength too. The total number of doctors have to be 49 from the present 42. The hospital is short by seven, namely two Anesthetists, one senior Physician, a senior Gynecologist, a senior Ophthalmic Surgeon, one Senior Orthopedic Surgeon and a medical officer. There is a further need to absorb three staff nurses and one ward sister, it is learnt. Technicians and clerical staff have to be also appointed. The class four staff also needs to be increased by 17 servants, 12 sweepers and scavengers who form the backbone of the hygiene of Hospicio Hospital.

The hospital has got a sanctioned bed capacity of 230 beds but 250 beds have been accommodated. The hospital is equipped with a CAT scan, x-ray machine, a well equipped pharmacy functioning on a 24 hour basis, Ultra sound machine, ICU with 4 beds capacity and respiratory equipment.

The Hospital morgue has as little as three units with six drawers each. One unit is non-functional and scrapped since it is outdated. Of the remaining two, one is likely to go ‘dead’ any moment. Repeated representations to the Government to provide new ones have yielded no results, staff decry. The third one will put any decent bedroom or sitting room of an average house to shame. It is impeccable and spotlessly maintained by Dr. Poojari and his dedicated helper who is employed on contract basis. This helper is handicapped but totally devoted to his job. He worked for free in 2001, the year he joined, during which period he learnt the job which few are willing to do. Subsequently in January 2002 he was taken on contract basis and presently takes home a miserly salary of Rs 1870 per month. Although the post has to be filled on regular basis, this man’s service has not been recommended for regularization. Surely the Government has to listen to their grievances and improve their working conditions.

Less Doctors Too

THERE ARE various practical difficulties, which need to be sorted out. The Hospicio is under the Directorate of Health hence it is considered as a “District Hospital”. On the other hand, GMC is a teaching hospital, which has several advantages. The GMC has more intern doctors (doctors who have to compulsorily serve before being awarded their degree), Junior Resident Doctors, Senior Resident Doctors, Assistant Professors, Associate Professors and Professors. Several doctors of each category are available round the clock at GMC whereas at Hospicio Hospital, there are only fixed doctors from the Directorate of Health cadre who are paid a regular salary and are limited in number. The advantages of having intern doctors and the like are not enjoyed by the Hospicio Hospital. As per the rules, at the GMC, one nurse has to attend to three patients whereas at Hospicio Hospital one nurse has to attend to six patients. However right now one nurse attends to many more.

According to prominent doctors who have served Hospicio Hospital in the yesteryears, there is no staff to operate the available machinery. The surgeons are not willing to take ‘responsibility’ and a majority of the patients are referred to the GMC. On the way to the GMC, 60% of these patients perish whereas a great majority of those who survive and make it to the GMC die due to delay in receiving treatment. The doctors presently recruited by the Health Services are on contract basis, which does not offer security to the doctor. The nurses badly need counselling so that they are courteous and treat patients like humans need to be treated, say the patients at the hospital. Political interference too is a major hurdle in the day-to-day running of Hospicio.

The doctors do not use the residential quarters hence they are constantly not available in case of emergencies and also not able to attend to their day-to-day work in time. According to senior doctors, the Government appointed visiting Committee should be given more powers along with the Superintendent for quicker results. Presently the committee has to recommend proposals to the Director of Health, who sends it to Under Secretary of Health and later to Secretary of Health and finally the Health Minister. The proposal is most of the time returned due to lack of funds. The senior doctors state that the only solution is to convert the Hospicio Hospital to a teaching college like Goa Medical College. But till such a time, the government is called upon to redress these grievances.

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