Desk Correspondent , Panaji — Goa Health Minister Vishwajit Rane has announced the formation of a high-level committee to overhaul state hospital protocols following a medical negligence incident that cost an 11-year-old boy his leg. The minister further pledged ₹25 lakh from his personal funds to support the victim’s family, acknowledging that while the financial aid cannot reverse the permanent damage, the government is committed to preventing future recurrences. The committee, which includes the health secretary and director of health services, is tasked with inspecting all state-run facilities to enforce strict medical standards.

The incident began on April 27 when the boy was taken to the Valpoi Community Health Centre (CHC) with a fractured fibula. According to an official inquiry, a plaster slab was improperly applied by a multi-tasking staff employee rather than a qualified specialist. The child returned the following day suffering from fever and drowsiness; he was subsequently transferred to Goa Medical College, where he developed gangrene and was forced to undergo an emergency amputation of his left leg.

In response to the findings, the government has suspended Dr. Yavanti Gawade, the on-duty medical officer at the Valpoi CHC, pending a detailed expert inquiry. Officials confirmed that the initial report cited an "act of medical negligence" as the primary cause of the complications. The newly formed oversight body will now work to ensure that specialized tasks are handled only by authorized personnel across all North and South Goa health centers to restore public trust in the state's healthcare system.