Porvorim: Chief minister Pramod Sawant has alloted Rs 2,031 crore for the health sector in its 2025-26 budget with a major thrust on infra development of Goa Medical College (GMC). The GMC has been allotted Rs 993 crore for upgrading its facilities.
A 120-bed chest and TB hospital, a 100-bed critical care hospital, a centre of excellence in endoscopic skull surgery, and a state-of-the-art blood bank. an allied health sciences college and hostel for 200 students were announced. The constructions of these will be taken up in 2025-26, Sawant said.
Also, the paediatric neonatal care unit, organ transplant centre, and cardiology department will be upgraded, he added.
Sawant also proposed setting up satellite out patient departments (OPD) at Canacona, Curchorem, and Pernem, and promotion of telemedicine to reduce the burden on GMC.
With the state seeing a high incidence of cancer, Sawant said the construction of the state cancer institute will be fast-tracked. An AI-driven early lung cancer detection across the state is part of the plan.
Also, health services will take up longitudinal cohort research study to examine lifestyle and environmental factors leading to diseases such as diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular ailments.
Govt will also set-up a daycare cancer centre in each district hospital. The manpower and facilities at the health facilities at Chicalim, Ponda, and Canacona will be enhanced.
Health centres at Porvorim, Betki, Benaulim, Cuncolim, Mormugao, and Marcaim will be taken up in the next financial year. Redevelopment of the health centre in Panaji will also be started, Sawant said.
The chief minister also declared the strengthening of emergency and trauma care by adding more ambulances to be able to offer medical care to patients during the golden hour.
Allotting Rs 28 crore for the food and drugs administration (FDA), Sawant said food regulations will be enforced. He has earmarked Rs 2.5 crore to buy high-quality equipment for a laboratory.
“No restaurants or kiosks will be allowed to operate without an FDA licence, to ensure food safety of public and tourists. Labs will be set up at the district level to check food samples on a regular basis,” Sawant said.
Allotting Rs 81 crore for the Institute of Psychiatry and Human Behaviour (IPHP), Sawant announced the expansion of the OPD and administrative section will be taken up in the new fiscal year.
Hailing the sufficiently good allotment for health department, heath minister Vishwajit Rane said Ayush hospitals at Ribandar and Dhargal will be made operational with the help from the Centre.
