Goa Medical College : Rs 350 crore super specialty block inches ahead

Panaji: The Rs 350 crore super specialty block construction on the premises of Goa Medical College (GMC) and Hospital, Bambolim finally made a headway when a dozen encroachments on the GMC land were removed, following a court order.

The plot measuring 5000 sq meters was sanctioned three years ago for the super specialty block, under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Seva Yojna — a central government scheme, for building a health infrastructure. Encroachments made it difficult for the state government to move ahead, despite the Centre having approved a sanction of Rs 150 crore, as part of its share, towards expenditure to be incurred. The rest of the cost is to be borne by the state.

Health Minister, Vishwajit Rane on Sunday said, "With encroachments removed, they can now move ahead in putting up the project. I've already spoken to the Union health secretary."

Dr S M Bandekar, Medical Superintendent, GMC revealed that a delegation of Parliamentary board members will go to Goa next month, in relation to the project. The government has already announced the moving of all existing super specialties in GMC to the new block, and a few new specialties including liver transplant are to be introduced in the block, as well.

The emptied space after the shift is meant to be used for other departments which are currently facing a shortage of beds, said a health official.

The GMC premises is also to incorporate a regional cancer unit- another central government project. Rane revealed that the authorities were in the process of signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Centre for setting up this cancer unit.

"The Centre has already sanctioned the first installment for the project and we will be receiving it shortly," Rane said.

The regional cancer center was sanctioned in 2013, however, the Rs 100 crore project faced incessant delays due to administrative hurdles making the take off difficult, reports the TOI.