Goa | 30 January 2026: P&G SEHAT, the healthcare-focused CSR initiative of Procter & Gamble Health India, today launched a Mobile Healthcare Unit (MHU) in Usgaon village, Ponda district, to enhance access to free primary and preventive healthcare across underserved communities.
The launch event was attended by Dr. Sandesh Madkaikar, Chief Medical Officer, Non-Communicable Disease Cell, Directorate of Health Services, Goa, and Mr. Sanjay Gaude, Sarpanch of Usgaon Panchayat, alongside P&G Health India officials.
Operated in partnership with NGO HelpAge India, the MHU provides free medical consultations, 36 diagnostic tests, essential medicines, and bi-monthly health camps. The mobile team includes an MBBS doctor, pharmacist, community mobilizer, and driver, offering services that range from maternal health and nutrition awareness to early diagnosis of common non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
Dr. Sandesh Madkaikar said, “Mobile healthcare units are critical in taking primary and preventive care to the community. This initiative will provide early diagnosis and timely interventions, improving overall health indicators in underserved areas.”
Yugit Bansal, Plant Head of P&G Health India’s Goa Manufacturing Site, added, “The new Mobile Healthcare Unit will empower communities with essential medical services, early diagnostics, and preventive health education, supporting better health outcomes in Goa. P&G SEHAT remains committed to advancing a healthier India through impactful partnerships.”
Since 2019, P&G SEHAT has reached over 50,000 households in Goa, including areas like Valpoi, Dharbandora, and Canacona, reinforcing its commitment to improving health indicators across the state. The initiative also recently conducted a gynaecology camp in Usgaon to promote maternal health and nutrition awareness.
An organ donation awareness talk was organised for members of Lokmat Saki at Amshekar Hospital in Valpoi, Sattari, Goa, on December 19, 2025. The session was conducted by Gabriel Pereira, an organ donation ambassador associated with the MOHAN Foundation, following an invitation extended by Ms Geeta Daawan.
Gabriel Pereira shared that the initiative was planned after his interaction with Ms Daawan during the Valpoi Marathon earlier in the month. She informed him that Dr Ashok Amshekar, founder of the Valpoi Marathon and proprietor of Amshekar Hospital, commemorates his birthday every year by organising social initiatives such as blood donation camps and had also welcomed an organ donation awareness programme at the hospital.
Before the talk, a short film on organ donation produced by ROTTO–SOTTO, Mumbai, was screened to help participants better understand the process and significance of organ donation.
A highlight of the programme was the testimony of Mr Umesh Dhavalikar, a liver transplant recipient, who shared his emotional journey and the gift of life he received from his sister. He spoke about representing Goa and India in national and international transplant games, inspiring the audience with his resilience and gratitude.
During the interactive session, Gabriel explained the current status of organ transplantation in Goa, stating that kidney and corneal transplants are presently carried out in the state. He noted that eight brain-dead declarations have enabled 16 kidney transplants locally, while other organs such as hearts, lungs, and livers are allocated through the Regional Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (ROTTO). He further explained the role of the State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (SOTTO) in managing organ allocation within states.
Approximately 30 informational flyers addressing frequently asked questions about organ donation were distributed during the event, resulting in seven attendees pledging to become organ donors.
At the conclusion of the programme, Gabriel Pereira expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Ms Geeta Daawan, Dr Ashok Amshekar, and Mr Umesh Dhavalikar for their support and commitment towards spreading awareness about organ donation and saving lives.
The All-India Institute of Ayurveda, Goa, under the Ministry of Ayush, celebrated its 4th Foundation Day with a significant milestone for integrative healthcare: a high-profile national workshop on the “Preparation of Integrative Protocol for Colorectal Carcinoma.” Eminent experts from various medical fields gathered to refine evidence-informed, collaborative treatment pathways in integrative oncology. Prof. (Vd.) P. K. Prajapati, Director of AIIA; Prof. Dr. Sujata Kadam, Dean of AIIA Goa; and Dr. Vinayak Chakor, Deputy Medical Superintendent, addressed the media and outlined the institute’s advancements on this special occasion.
AIIA Goa announced yet another major achievement—its NABH accreditation, an endorsement of the institute’s commitment to world-class quality, patient safety, and robust healthcare delivery. With this, along with newly inaugurated facilities, AIIA Goa now operates 25 multidisciplinary OPDs, including dedicated units for Manasrog Chikitsa, De-addiction, Swastha Rakshan, Diabetes, Casualty, and Critical Care, showcasing its mission to blend classical Ayurvedic wisdom with modern scientific technologies. Prof. Prajapati also highlighted outcomes from the 2nd WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine in New Delhi, where safety and evidence-based Ayurveda, especially Ashwagandha, were at the forefront of global discussions. The summit is expected to guide the next decade of integrating traditional and indigenous medicines into national health systems worldwide.
Prof. Sujata Kadam shared that, as part of the Foundation Day celebrations, the institute inaugurated two new OPDs—Health Assessment Screening and Dental OPD—along with fully equipped Kayachikitsa and Kaumarbhritya Panchakarma Theatres and an expanded IPD facility. She added that patient services have grown significantly, with over 800 OPD visitors daily, all receiving Ayurvedic medicines free of cost. Since inception, AIIA Goa has recorded over 5.25 lakh OPD footfall, 31,000 IPD admissions, around 77,200 Panchakarma procedures, and more than 1,35,000 radiology and laboratory investigations.
Under Medical Value Travel and Wellness Tourism initiatives, AIIA Goa has provided OPD services to 233 international patients and IPD care to 16 foreign nationals. The institute has also conducted more than 40,400 health camps, including general, disease-specific, school health check-ups, and Suvarnaprashan camps. On the academic front, the institute currently accommodates four undergraduate batches of 100 students each and has expanded its postgraduate education with new scholars joining in November 2025 across specialties including Dravya Guna, Rog Nidan, Kayachikitsa, Kaumarbhritya, and Panchakarma. AIIA Goa also offers an Ayurveda Dietician Course and a Panchakarma Technician Course, building workforce capacity in traditional medicine.
AIIA Goa has strengthened its institutional reach through strategic collaborations. Key partnerships include the Department of Tourism, Government of Goa, to promote wellness and medical tourism; CSIR–National Institute of Oceanography to explore research and knowledge exchange; BITS Pilani Goa for joint research and academic collaboration; the Goa State Biodiversity Board for conservation and documentation of biodiversity; and the Goa Institute of Management for healthcare innovation and interdisciplinary studies. A tripartite MoU between AIIA Goa, the Directorate of Health Services, Government of Goa, and ATREC, Tata Memorial Centre, aims to advance integrative cancer care through research, treatment, and education.
With these expanding services, academic strides, global-facing collaborations, and a strong commitment to evidence-based Ayurveda, AIIA Goa reaffirmed its dedication to transforming healthcare and positioning itself as a global leader in integrative medicine.
Written by Intern Queeny George M.H , Team Allycaral
Victor Hospital, a trusted name in Goa’s private healthcare sector, has taken another step toward making quality healthcare more accessible by inaugurating a new consultation facility at Sarth Polyclinic, located in the Vitthal Bhavan Building, Bansai, Curchorem. The facility was formally opened today at 10:00 am in a ceremony graced by Mr. Nilesh Cabral, Honorable MLA of the Curchorem Constituency, who served as the Chief Guest. Mr. Sanket Arsekar, Joint Secretary to the Chief Minister, attended as the Guest of Honor, alongside special invitees Mr. Prasanna Bhende, Chairperson of Curchorem Cacora Municipal Council (CCMC), and Mr. Vishwas Sawant, Ward Councillor.
This initiative is a collaborative effort between Victor Hospital and Sarth Polyclinic, aimed at improving access to reliable, affordable, and quality healthcare services in South Goa. Residents of Curchorem and neighboring areas will now be able to access daily general doctor consultations and free blood pressure checks. The clinic will be operational from Monday to Saturday between 9:00 am and 6:00 pm, offering flexible timings for working individuals and families.
Importantly, the facility will also host expert consultations from Victor Hospital’s team of specialists covering a wide range of medical fields, including General Medicine, General Surgery, Pediatrics, Orthopedics, Chest Medicine, Urology (Kidney Stones & Prostate Care), Ophthalmology, and Nephrology. Patients under the Deen Dayal Swasthya Seva Yojana (DDSSY) scheme will be eligible for special discounts and benefits, making this facility financially accessible to a larger section of the community.
Ms. Roana Costa, Executive Director of Victor Hospital; Dr. Ajay Gangoli, COO & Medical Superintendent; and Mr. Samir Gaonkar, Proprietor of Sarth Polyclinic, collectively expressed their vision of bringing compassionate, patient-friendly healthcare to the doorstep of every Goan. They reaffirmed Victor Hospital’s mission to extend its trusted services beyond the urban centers and into semi-urban and rural regions of Goa.
With this new consultation unit in Curchorem, Victor Hospital continues its commitment to community health and wellness—ensuring that quality healthcare is not a privilege, but a right for all.
