Healthcare Facilities in Goa

By the year 2000, the Government of Goa had achieved the ‘Health For All’ goal through its several health and medical care programs. Hence, Goa is considered as one of the best states in the country where health and medical care facilities are concerned. It has one of the most extensive health amenities in the country.

The Directorate of Health Services (DHS) in Goa plays an important role in administering the health and medical services in the state. It is responsible for raising the quality, expanding the accountability and delivering the services efficiently, fairly and courteously. It mainly seeks to provide therapeutic, rehabilitative and preventive health services to the citizens through primary health care, which is one of the main tools to improve the quality of life and accelerate socio-economic development for all the people of Goa at an affordable rate.

Health care facilities in the rural areas of Goa are provided through an integrated network of medical and family welfare systems. The Primary Health Care facilities in the state is carried out in a three – tier system, that is, Primary Health Centers, Sub Centers and Community Health Centers.

Primary Health Care centers in the state are managed by a medical officer along with a para-medical and other personnel, while Sub Centers in Goa are the marginal contact point between Community Health Centers and Primary Health Centers (PHC). They are managed by several Multi Purpose Health Workers (Both Male and Female) along with an attendant or a peon. The 19 Primary Health Centers, 5 Community Health Centers, 172 Sub Centers, 29 Rural Medical Dispensaries and 1 Medical Dispensary collectively provide health and medical care facilities in Goa, especially to those living in the rural areas.

Out of the 19 PHC’s in the state, thirteen have attached hospitals with 12 to 30 beds under the charge of a Health Officer. They act as referral points for the Sub Centers and provide curative and preventive welfare services to the citizens. There are five Community Health Care centers in the state, headed by a Health Officer and are well equipped with a minimum of 30 beds and four specialist doctors. They also act as referral units for the Primary Health Centers.

Furthermore, Goa is also home to 29 Rural Medical Dispensaries (RMD), all of which are located in the remote and unreachable areas of the state. They are managed by Resident Medical Officers (RMO) and a Pharmacist and are equipped with an effective Out Patient Department (OPD).

South Goa District and North Goa District, each have their own district hospital – Hospicio Hospital and Asilo Hospital in Margao and Mapusa respectively. In addition to that, Goa is also home to three other specialized hospitals that serve as referral units - Leprosy Hospital (Macazana), Cottage Hospital (Chicalim) and TB Hospital (Margao). In totality, there are around 1162 beds in the hospitals that come under the Directorate of Health Services, out of which 352 belong to Community Health Centers and Primary Health Centers. Moreover, there are eighteen Dental Clinics and other specialized clinics for execution of several Family Welfare, STD, Malaria, TB and Blindness Control programs. There are also 2 Homeopathic Units (Panaji and Pernem) and 7 Ayurvedic Dispensaries (Mapusa, Margao, Bicholim, Canacona, Balli, Curchorem and Quepem) in Goa. 

Furthermore, Goa is also home to four Urban Health Centers in Panaji, Margao, Mapusa and Vasco De Gama and one Medical Dispensary located at Sada, along with an STD clinic in Baina, both situated in Vasco De Gama town. The Directorate and its units are the ones that are responsible for issuing No Objection Certificates (NOC) to anyone who wishes to open an establishment. The individual or the party has to submit three copies of the application to the Health Officer in charge of the unit.

Major Healthcare Services in Goa

EMRI 108

EMRI 108 was launched in Goa from 5th September 2008 to take care of all the emergencies in the state. Under this scheme, 18 ambulances would cater to an emergency situation within the time frame of 18 to 20 minutes.

Ambulance Services

All hospitals, Community Health Centers and Primary Health Centers have been provided with efficient ambulance services. Each ambulance is fitted with a stretcher, IV set, first aid box, hook and a cylinder stand.

Casualty and Emergency Services

Casualty and Emergency services are promptly handled twenty four hours by duty doctors in all hospitals, Community Health Centers and Primary Health Centers. Patients requiring specialized treatments are carefully shifted to the nearest Community Health Centers or District Hospitals depending on the case.

Blood Banks in Goa

There are two blood banks in Goa under the charge of DHS, one in Hospicio Hospital, Margao and the other in Asilo Hospital in Mapusa. Both these blood banks are certified and licensed and only provide blood after being tested for various diseases.

Radiological Facilities

Radiological Services such as X-Ray are available in the following hospitals under DHS - Hospicio Hospital (Margao), Asilo Hospital (Mapusa), TB Hospital (Margao), Cottage Hospital (Chicalim), Primary Health Centers (Sanquelim, Cansarvarnem, Bicholim, Sanguem, Aldona and Marcaim), Community Health Centers (Valpoi, Pernem, Curchorem and Canacona) and District Tuberculosis Centre (Panaji).

Other Healthcare Facilities in Goa

Other Facilities such as ECG machines are available in Hospicio Hospital (Margao), Asilo Hospital (Mapusa), Primary Health Centers (Sanquelim, Bicholim, Cansarvarnem, Curchorem, Sanguem, Marcaim, Bali, Shiroda, Pernem and Aldona), Community Health Centers (Valpoi and Canacona and Cottage Hospital (Chicalim).

Facilities of Black and White Ultrasound Scanner are available in Hospicio Hospital (Margao), Asilo Hospital (Mapusa), Primary Health Centers (Curchorem, Canacona, Madkai and Pernem), Community Health Centers (Valpoi) and Cottage Hospital (Chicalim).

Facilities of Patient Monitors are available in Hospicio Hospital (Margao), Asilo Hospital (Mapusa), Primary Health Centers (Pernem, Canacona and Ponda) and Cottage Hospital (Chicalim).

Famous Hospitals in Goa

Apollo Victor Hospital
Address: Malbhat, Margao, Goa
Phone: 0832 672 8888

Goa Medical College and Hospital
Address: Tiswadi Edapally - Panvel Highway, Bambolim, Goa 403202
Phone: 0832 249 5000

Manipal Hospitals
Address: Dr. E Borges Road, Dona Paula, Panaji, Goa 403004
Phone: 0832 304 8800

Vrundavan Hospital
Address: Karaswada, Mapusa, Goa, 403527
Phone: 0832 225 0022

Vintage Hospital
Address: Caculo Enclave, St Inez Rd, Santa Inez, Panjim, Goa 403001
Phone: 0832 671 1414

Savaikar Hospital
Address: House No-44, Near AJ De Almeida High School, Warkhandem, Ponda, Goa 403401
Phone: 0832 231 9202

Chodankar Hospital
Address: Edapally - Panvel Highway, Povorim, Penha de França, Goa 403521
Phone: 0832 241 7640