Panaji (Goa): After drawing flak over patients being asked to purchase medicine from private pharmacies, the Health Minister Vishwajit Rane has directed the State run Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMC) to ensure that all the required medicines are made available to the patients within the hospital.

Minister on Friday held meeting with the HOD’s of GMC. The meeting was arranged with HOD by the Minister to acquaint himself of the various difficulties being faced by Doctors in the discharge of their professional duties and also to ascertain the facilities required to provide better services to the patients.

“The patients coming for treatment are mainly poor and can’t afford the procurement of medicines from outside. The Minister advised the doctors to avoid prescribing medicine to patients from outside and to ensure that the medicines are available within,” the press statement issued by the Government, reads.

The Minister emphasized that the functioning of GMC needs to be strengthened, while assuring to provide better and quality facilities to cater to the needs of patients as well as Doctors.

“GMC will be one of the best Hospitals in India; Minister said appealing to the Doctors to suggest their ideas/views to make it proactive to the needs of the Patients,” the press release said.

Rane pointed that the condition of many units in the hospital are very critical and warned that such things will not be tolerated. Rane directed the Dean and HOD’s to move proposals for whatever requirements that are required to meet the medical services at the hospital

Admitting that the workload at the hospital has increased manifold times, the Minister stressed the need to sort out the issues. He emphasized to increase the registration counter before May 15to avoid rush and queue of patients.

Team TNV