The Hindu Business Line : ‘I want to provide comprehensive medical care’

Minister for Health and Agriculture Mr Vishwajit Rane, son of Speaker and former Chief Minister Pratapsingh Rane, represents the Valpoi constituency in North Goa as an Independent. A first-time minister, Mr Rane wants to provide comprehensive health facilities to everybody.

You have stood by this Government during its crisis. Tell us about the stability of the Government since you are its crucial partner. And what about the progress on the health services front?

This coalition government is stable under the leadership of Chief Minister Kamat, and I am confident it is delivering the goods. Upgrade of government hospitals, setting up new ones at district and taluk levels, super-speciality and trauma wards are being taken up for Goa Medical College Hospital, Asia’s oldest medical college; more such hospitals are planned. I also have thought of the PPP model to cross-subsidise health facilities for the poor by offering medical tourism opportunities to reputed private players. We have appointed reputed consultants Fishman Prabhu to advise us on PPP projects.

I have taken up a plan for simplification of procedures and decentralisation of powers. I am for restricting ministerial intervention to the policy level and firmly believe in no interference at the administrative level.

How will you do that?

For instance, under this Mediclaim, all files often come to the minister for approval. I am changing that. I am also working to make the Mediclaim scheme more comprehensive.

I am working on setting up a Mediclaim Helpline. I have decided to set up a special purpose vehicle for implementation of the Mediclaim. I have a dream to set up a medical city at Pernem, one of our neglected taluks, without investing Government money.

What are the other plans?

I am working on making Goa the first State to screen newborn babies within 48 hours compulsorily to detect genetic problems and link it to issuing of birth certificate. On the agriculture portfolio …

I am setting up an advisory council headed by prominent people including progressive farmers and professionals to turn agriculture around. I also want to involve women’s self-help groups with the State-owned Horticulture Corporation to give a marketing support system for marginal farmers and individual horticulturists.

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