‘Goa surpasses many states in healthcare, GMC to get infra revamp & excellence centres’ | Goa News – Times of India
Goa Medical College and Hospital is central to the healthcare infrastructure that serves Goa and even the nearby states. GMC dean Dr S M Bandekar discusses with Team TOI the key challenges in upgrading the state’s medical facilities and planned improvements in the offing at the hospital. Edited excerpts from Townhall With TOI
What challenges confront healthcare
in Goa?
Goa Leads in HealthcareGoa’s healthcare infrastructure surpasses that of many other states.The system functions effectively from primary to tertiary levels. However, primary healthcare centres require assessment. A robust referral mechanism is essential to transfer patients between community health centres, district facilities, and tertiary care units. At GMC, we are establishing two centres of excellence: one for gastroenterology and another for endoscopic skull-base surgery.
GMC performed its first robotic orthopaedic surgery last year. What role will AI play in future?
AI technology has revolutionised medical procedures, especially in robotic surgical interventions. During robotic knee fixations, the system maintains precision in balance and alignment for all patients. We will soon start a robotic surgical unit specialising in minimally invasive procedures.
The hospital’s oncology department has only two senior resident doctors. How will this shortage be addressed?
In specialised medical domains like oncology, faculty recruitment poses challenges. We started our oncology department by hiring a fellowship-trained specialist, acknowledging the limited availability of oncologists. After GMC signed a partnership MoU with Tata Memorial hospital, National Medical Commission permitted postgraduate admissions. We are actively recruiting two additional faculty members.
When will the State Cancer Institute open?
The work has commenced and the institute will be ready in the next two years. The facility will have 120 beds and deal with all cancer-care requirements, such as bone marrow transplants, surgical oncology, medical oncology, and radiation oncology.
Overload exists and it’s because of the sheer faith of people in GMC. Sometimes even for small fractures, patients want me to operate on them because they have faith in us. This aspect can’t be regulated. We need to strengthen health centres and improve our infrastructure.
What is the plan to cut patients’ waiting time at the hospital?
Patients arrive from various locations, often in critical condition. The casualty ward was constructed a decade ago, demands have grown significantly since. We will connect the unit to an intermediate ward to accommodate patients. We will implement robust standard operating procedures to ensure prompt medical attention.
What budget is needed to overhaul the casualty ward and enhance infrastructure?
GMC operates on an annual budget of approximately Rs 650 crore, encompassing doctors’ salaries and free medication for patients. The medicine allocation alone accounts for Rs 180 crore, procured through competitive tendering to ensure cost-effectiveness.
The first Covid wave passed and we actually celebrated prematurely thinking that the pandemic was gone. But the Delta variant of the virus in the second wave necessitated the need for prodigious amounts of oxygen to treat patients. As for Covid lessons, we will establish a dedicated critical care block. Every hospital bed will be equipped with oxygen ports. Additionally, an infectious diseases unit is planned on the GMC campus for isolation; it’s expected to be completed in two years.
Is Goa now equipped to tackle a pandemic?
We are fully equipped, our virology lab is very well equipped and we have one of the best sequencing machines. Sequencing tells you the virulence of the virus so that you can accordingly use anti-virus medicines or other treatments. We have the best Viral Research and Diagnostic Laboratory for which the certification has already been obtained.
GMC’s cardiology,
When patients come with chest pain, they are initially admitted to the medicine ward rather than the cardiology department. With all three cardiology wards at full capacity, primarily with angiography and angioplasty cases, immediate transfers aren’t feasible. We have implemented the protocol to give patients thrombolysis (a procedure to break up blood clots) in the medicine ward before transferring them to the cardiology unit. We are working to open an additional cardiology ward.
How healthy is Goa’s population?
Modern families’ eating habits have changed, with cooking at home becoming rare. Children prefer dining at fast-food outlets and consuming excessive amounts of fried chicken. That is concerning. Today’s lifestyle choices are resulting in people experiencing cardiac issues by the age of 30. There is an urgent need to revive family cooking traditions and regular kitchen usage.
What about diabetes and alcohol consumption in the state?
Diabetes poses a significant health challenge, particularly in Goa, where 23-28% of residents suffer from this condition due to genetics and lifestyle factors. Many diagnosed patients disregard health guidelines, consuming sweets at social events while adjusting insulin doses. As for alcohol, some individuals drink and turn to Liv.52 (an ayurvedic product said to support liver function). People falsely believe the product prevents liver damage. Scientific evidence does not support this assumption about Liv.52, making people’s behaviour risky.
Diabetics have only two days for OPD care at GMC. How will that be fixed?
The endocrinology OPD operates for two days, followed by paediatric
consultations. Managing diabetic patients requires comprehensive care, including prescriptions, specialised diets, and counselling. Plans are under way to establish another unit and an additional OPD.
What is the extent of alcohol addiction in Goa?
Alcohol Addiction in Goa Remains a Concern
Social drinking is prevalent everywhere, and it would be implausible for anyone to claim they have never consumed alcohol. Currently, both smoking and drinking have become common among women as well, leading us to establish a tobacco cessation centre at GMC. Women are taking up smoking, possibly due to stress, and consuming alcohol, perhaps due to professional requirements. Drinking has evolved into a significant societal issue.
GMC is one of India’s premier institutes. So, why do many Goans look to Russia and Ukraine for medical education?
The admission process in our medical college is strictly merit-based. Nearly 5 lakh aspirants take exams across India. But not everyone can secure places in private and govt medical colleges. Due to limited seats and high costs — exceeding Rs 1 crore — in private Indian colleges, many opt for affordable medical education in Russia, China, or the Philippines. Funding and academic performance influence these choices.
Accidents are on the rise, how does that reflect in the casualty ward admissions?
In the casualty ward, we primarily encounter head trauma cases and severe fractures. We receive eight to 10 major fracture cases daily, which require immediate hospitalisation and surgery. These cases include thigh bone, spine, and forearm injuries. Additionally, we treat 10-12 head injury cases. Some head trauma patients arrive in such a critical condition that they pass away before treatment can be given. After 10pm, the casualty ward often has patients with alcohol-related injuries.
When will GMC’s super-speciality block start an appointments system?
We will implement the Hospital Information Management System from Jan. This digital platform enables immediate access to patient information and locations. The system balances pre-booked appointments with walk-in registrations, particularly benefiting underprivileged patients who might struggle with online booking procedures.
Each (system) has its own claim. We see this a lot in arthritis patients. I don’t know the science of alternative medicine. If treated in time and with the right medication, you can prevent damage and operations. Whether it is alternative or allopathic, medicine has to work on patients. If it works, no issue; if it doesn’t, it’s a disaster.
