Goa Health Minister's Address to Medical Officers

Panaji: Goa health minister Vishwajit Rane asked the medical officers to come out with a road map for effective implementation of health services in the state.

"Come out with a road map listing out what is required for your health centre or hospital. We will try to fulfill all the requirements in a phased manner," Rane said in his first interaction with medical officers from across all the state-run hospitals and medical facilities.

"The road map should be ready by May 15 after which its implementation will be initiated by the health department," said the minister.

He went on to add, "We might not complete all the wishes overnight but will certainly try to fund all the requirements under various schemes."

The minister also told the government doctors "not to fall prey to any kind of pressure from anyone, however, influential, for a false medical certificate."

"Recently, I have come across an incident wherein an influential authority asked the doctor to issue a false medical certificate to put someone in trouble...Please do not fall for the pressures.

"Whoever might request you, be upright in your functioning," the health minister said during his half-an-hour address to the medical officers in Panaji.

The minister assured the doctors that he would never call them for any kind of unwarranted favour.

"You will not get a call from me to put someone in trouble or get some kind of certificate signed. It is important that we operate in a transparent fashion," said Rane.

The minister asked the medical officers to furnish him the details about the requirement of each health centre and hospital including shortage of medicines.