Directorate Of Health Services

Primary health care is essential health care for all citizens, easily accessible and at a cost which the citizens and community can afford. In the rural areas services are provided through a network of integrated health and family welfare delivery system. The primary health care infrastructure has been developed as a three tier system – Sub- Centres, Primary Health Centres and Community Health Centres. Sub-Centre is the most peripheral contact point between the Primary Health Care System and the community and is manned generally by one M.P.H.W. (F), one M.P.H.W. (M) and a peon/Attendant. Primary Health Centre is manned by a Medical Officer supported by para-medical and other staff. Some of the PHCs have attached hospitals ranging with 12 to 42 beds and are headed by a Health Officer. The PHCs act as referral units for the sub-centres and provide curative, preventive, promotive and family welfare services. The Community Health Centres are headed by a Health Officer generally with specialist doctors and a minimum of 30 beds. It serves as a referral centre for PHCs. In addition, there are Rural Medical Dispensaries (RMDs) in remote and inaccessible areas manned by a Rural Medical Officer and Pharmacist and an attendant where regular OPDs are conducted. The Directorate of Health Services with its network of 6 CHCs, 25 PHCs (13 with attached hospitals), 219 Sub-Centres, 31 R.M.Ds provides basic health care services to the people of Goa particularly to those living in rural areas. There are four Urban Health Centres each located at Panaji, Mapusa, Margao and Vasco providing public health services in these towns. There are two District Hospitals in Goa, one in South Goa District i.e. South Goa District Hospital, Margao and one in North Goa District i.e. North Goa District Hospital, Mapusa. They render secondary care services with specialist in different faculties. Two Sub District Hospitals are established at Ponda and at Chicalim and renders 24×7 medical services. There is one other specialised/general hospital namely T.B. Hospital, Margao under this Directorate also serve as referral Hospitals.

In all there are 1453 beds in the hospitals under the Directorate of which 497 beds are attached to CHCs / PHCs. There are 14 Homeopathic Clinics, 34 Ayurvedic Clinics, 27 ophthalmic clinics and 33 Dental Clinics located at various PHCs / CHCs. Besides there are three STD clinics in Urban Towns namely at Mapusa, Margao, and Vasco.