Team TNV

The Goa Human Rights Commission (GHRC) comprising of A D Salkar and J A Keny, today, issued notices to the Chief Secretary, Director of Health Services and the Dean of Goa Medical Services directing them to file a report within four weeks on the complaint filed by Adv. Aires Rodrigues over the very appalling state of emergency care in the State in the wake of the death of Adv. Satish Sonak last week..

Pointing out that on April 7 the 108 emergency ambulance took 45 long minutes to reach Spaces building at Patto Plaza in Panaji where Adv. Satish Sonak suffered a heart attack, Adv. Rodrigues in his complaint has further stated that the emergency ambulance was also not equipped with the much required life saving devices which possibly could have helped revive and save the life of Adv. Satish Sonak.

Stating that the Patto Plaza was a busy hub, housing a lot of government offices and business premises, Adv. Rodrigues has sought that, a well-equipped ambulance be stationed there round the clock to attend to any life threatening emergency in the area.

Adv. Rodrigues in his complaint has further drawn the attention of the GHRC to Article 25 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948, to which India is a signatory, provides that everyone has the right to a standard of living, adequate for health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services.

Adv. Rodrigues has sought the intervention of the GHRC to ensure that due to the negligence in providing the basic Human Rights, innocent lives are not lost resulting in greater tragedies for individuals, families and the society at large.

Adv. Rodrigues in his complaint has demanded that the Chief Secretary, Director of Health Services and the Dean of Goa Medical College be directed to explain as to what steps they plan to take to ensure that prompt and proper emergency services are henceforth provided diligently to save lives.