Dear Saligaonettekara, We needed a simple Medical Certificate for our 16 year old son to produce for a temporary, 2-wheeler licence. We phoned to find out if the doctor at the Saligao Medical Certificate would issue one, and what it would cost.
Prakash Mehta, the polite and efficient Administrator got back saying it would cost Rs. 100/-. For a villager-friendly medical centre of this nature, we thought it was a bit pricey and shared this feedback with Prakash. He had already checked out this angle before relaying the figure to us and said that they had never got a request for such a service before. He also explained that the doctor pointed out that since the patient was new to him, he would have to do some examination, hence the stated fee. Under normal circumstances, a family doctor would not charge so much or not at all, as he/she knows the patient, Prakash explained further. This is true, as family doctors do not charge for such routine certificates. We did see his point though, that for a new patient some basic examination - blood pressure for instance - would be involved, making such a fee necessary. Evenso, we think that given the nature of a village medical centre such as this one, it would better benefit the average Saligaokar if fees are generally kept lower than the commercial establishments, which are very strictly run as successful businesses, powered only by the cold and impersonal profit motive. It would then truly become the warm and friendly source of wellness, health and healing for our village. This is our dream for any such community medical centre. It is also our appeal to the Saligao Health Centre team to make it happen. Warm regards and solidarity. M&M. PS1: Besides a villager-friendly fee structure, a Donation Box could be conspicuously placed. This way, Saligaokars and others blessed with better means, could contribute to offset the shortfall, if they felt called to do so. Again, an opportunity for us to function as a true community, where, as we often sing "...we will share the things we have, with every one in need..." - M&M. PS2: Prakash Mehta the Administrator did a great PR job. As the public face of the centre, he is a good front office person to have. Polite and efficient, there was not the slightest trace of arrogance that one encounters at other medical facilities, where medical and managerial staff alike love to play God! - M&M. -- *"We did not inherit Abreu Vaddo/Saligao/Goa/the Earth from our ancestors, we merely borrowed it from our children." - *Indigenous Wisdom ................................................................ there *is* anOTHERgoa at <http://www.anothergoa.blogspot.in> & <http://www.youtube.com/anothergoa> ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' muriel & mario, c/o FULKAR, 6/22, sonarbhatt, saligao. bardez. goa. 403511. tel: 0832-2278276 / 2409999 <anothergoa AT gmail.com> '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' -- Saligao-Net is at http://groups.google.com/group/saligao-net To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe email [email protected]
