‘Government has no funds to set up hospital in Ribandar’

PANAJI: Panaji MLA Atanasio Monserrate said on Friday that while there’s a need for a 24x7 medical facility at Ribandar, the state is not currently in a position to set one up, given the government’s fund crunch.
Monserrate met a delegation of the Ribandar health care committee on Friday and agreed to their demand for a fully-equipped hospital at the old Goa Institute of Management (GIM) building.
“I too want a full-fledged hospital, but it cannot happen right now. It will come stage by stage, because the government does not have money,” Monserrate told TOI. In his election manifesto, Monserrate had promised to set up a medical facility at Ribandar.
He said that in order for a proper hospital with a casualty unit to be set up at the old GIM building, other government departments would have to be moved out. At present, Goa police’s crime branch and the Goa Lokayukta office are situated within the complex.
“We will set up the hospital, but it requires time. The other departments have to be moved out. First let us start somewhere,” said Monserrate.
Under the Smart City mission, Monserrate plans to set up a primary health centre which will function during the day.
A delegation led by corporator Rupesh Halankar on Friday called on Monserrate and sought his intervention to restore medical facilities at the old building in Ribandar.