Trauma unit will soon be in place at Goa Medical College
Soumya V - Mumbai

Goa is one place where new ideas and better facilities are brewing in healthcare, especially in the government sector.

And with unique features like high literacy rates, health conscious population, highest per capita income, short boundaries and huge tourist population, the potential is all waiting to be tapped.

And with the rise in number of accidents (with tourists around) in the state, Goa Medical College (GMC)’s decision to have a Trauma centre sounds promising.

Dr Suresh Amonkar, health minister, Goa, himself being a student of GMC has huge plans to provide the people of Goa with all that they can ask for. Dr S V Nadkarni, the veteran behind setting up trauma care services in Sion Hospital, Mumbai has been appointed as the consultant advisor to Government of Goa to organise Trauma Centre.

Speaking about his role in facilitating trauma care, Dr Nadkarni says, “The emphasis is not on equipment but organisation and discipline. The focus is on saving time and quick treatment and if this is accomplished, 80 per cent is achieved.”

GMC is built over such a sprawling area that when the patient enters, treatment is delayed, since the departments are scattered. “This is prevented when an organised trauma ward with at least one senior doctor is present round the clock to stabilise and investigate since the patient does not have to run around,” he adds.

The project will see reorganisation of existing casualty department at the entrance of the hospital in such a way that diagnostic and laboratory facilities are available at one place. As of now, no large investment is set aside for new equipment. X-ray machine will be upgraded and existing facilities will be managed in the right way.

As for the success of the Unit, Dr Nadkarni says, “I want to show that even without the most modern and sophisticated equipment a lot can be achieved through proper organisation, dedication and team work.”

With the structural things ready, only senior doctors have to be appointed. Dr Nadkarni will visit Goa every month for ten days for the next one year, by which he expects work to be streamlined. And as he says rightly, “Cost can be doubled or halved by good management, since rapidity of treatment increases brings down the expenses by reducing patient stay. Unfortunately, in our country we have not understood the meaning of the word management.”