Daijiworld Media Network - Goa (MB)
from special correspondent

Panaji, Aug 20: Goa government is contemplating to ink joint venture agreements with the renowned health care institutions to augment the ailing government health care system through public private partnership (PPP).

"The primary health centres and even Government run Goa medical college needs better facilities... We will join hands with the private players who will provide the service.. Government will subsidise the service," health minister Vishwajeet Rane told reporters at the state secretariate, this afternoon.

"We want to turn Goa into health care hub with the private participation where all the facilities would be available at single point.

"There are lot of problems in streamlining the government health care services which are irreperable. "You will see some primary health centre buildings on the verge of collapse,'' the two month old state health minister said admitting failures of the government to put them in place.

The health minister, assuring complete transparency in the agreements,  declared formation of a state health advisory council, which will guide the state government in the PPP process.

"The council will also form the state health policy, which will envisage all these aspects," Rane said refusing to give any deadline for the policy. The PPP, he added, will be mostly in the superspeciality sector.

The council, which comprises reputed names from medical field like Dhirajlal Mehta (Mumbai), Marlon Pereira (Dubai) and others, will guide the health ministry in streamlining public health services, Rane said.

Talking on the PPP, Rane said whatever decision taken in this regard will be wetted by state cabinet.

The Goa health minister has also decided to charge the non-Goan patients while subsidizing Goans. "We are serving more for the outside Goan population than the locals," he said pointing out to the huge inflow of patients from neighbouring Karnataka and Maharashtra in state-owned Goa medical college and hospital.