The Goa Government will soon provide physiotherapy, geriatric care and other healthcare services at home for senior citizens and patients who cannot travel to hospitals. The initiative will support stroke survivors and other patients who need continued medical care at home.
The government plans to deliver these services through the 108 emergency service network, with support from allied health sciences students and other healthcare personnel. Authorities have already mapped patients who require home-based care.
Home Healthcare Support
The Goa Government will take essential healthcare services closer to patients who face difficulties travelling to hospitals for regular treatment and follow-up care.
The proposed home-care system will include physiotherapy, geriatric care and other support services. It will particularly benefit senior citizens, stroke survivors and patients recovering from serious illnesses who require continued assistance.
The government will use the 108 service network to support service delivery. Allied health sciences students and other trained personnel will also participate in providing these services.
Authorities have already mapped patients who may require home-based care. This will help the government identify beneficiaries and organise services according to their healthcare needs.
The initiative will also reduce the burden on families who currently need to arrange frequent hospital visits for elderly or long-term patients.
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Formal Caretaker System at GMC
The Goa Government also plans to introduce a structured caretaker system at Goa Medical College (GMC) for patients who require assistance during long hospital stays.
Under the proposed system, caretakers could receive identity cards and operate through a formal mechanism inside the hospital. This would help create greater accountability and make it easier to identify people providing caretaker services.
Families of long-stay patients currently pay private caretakers between ₹500 and ₹1,000, creating an additional financial burden. The proposed system aims to provide caretaker support without requiring families to make these payments.
Focus on Patient Safety
GMC has seen increasing demand for caretakers from families of patients who remain hospitalised for extended periods.
The absence of a formal system can create difficulties for patients and their relatives. Hospital staff have also raised concerns about cases where caretakers leave after patients’ relatives depart or fail to follow instructions related to patient care.
A structured system with proper identification can help improve accountability and strengthen patient safety within the hospital.
Through home-based healthcare services and a formal caretaker mechanism at GMC, the Goa Government aims to expand patient support beyond hospital facilities while making healthcare more accessible for senior citizens, stroke survivors and patients requiring long-term care.
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