2008 will be the year of women and child in Goa: council

Panaji, Dec 15 (UNI) Goa will observe the year 2008 as 'the Year of the Women and Child' with the objective of enhancing medicare to the vulnerable sections.

The government has taken this decision on the suggestion of the Goa Health Advisory Council, which met today in presence of Chief Minister Digambar Kamat and health minister Viswajit Rane.

In this connection, the chief minister said the government had plans to upgrade two district hospitals besides opening another 450-bedded hospital at the Goa medical College and launching universal mediclaim scheme shortly.

The health minister said he had proposed to introduce a bill in the coming budget session, amending the public health act giving more powers to the health officers.

He also proposed to include treatment of breast cancer under the mediclaim scheme in Goa.

UNI