Overview
On October 24, 2026, Parul University Goa formalised a partnership with the Directorate of Health Services (DHS), Goa, to inaugurate physiotherapy and rehabilitation centres across three major public‑health facilities in the state. The oath‑taking ceremony was held in the auditorium of South Goa District Hospital, Margao, and marked a concerted effort to strengthen rehabilitation services, improve access to physiotherapy care, and broaden healthcare support for Goan communities.
Facilities Inaugurated
Three physiotherapy and rehabilitation clinics were opened: one at South Goa District Hospital in Margao, a second at Primary Health Centre, Balli, and a third at Community Health Centre, Canacona. These centres integrate physiotherapy services into existing district, primary and community health settings, aiming to bring rehabilitation closer to patients recovering from injury, facing mobility challenges, or seeking to enhance functional independence and quality of life.
Participants and Leadership
The event was attended by senior health officials including Dr. Devanshu Patel, Director of Parul Education Foundation; Shri Yatindra M. Maralkar, Secretary of Health, Government of Goa; Dr. Saleena Naik, Director of Health Services, Goa; Dr. Sandesh Madkaikar, Chief Medical Officer, DHS; Dr. Kedar Raikar, Medical Officer in Charge, PHC Khorlim; Dr. Rajendra Borkar, Medical Superintendent, South Goa District Hospital; Dr. Lalit Lata Jha, Vice‑Chancellor, Parul University Goa; and other advisors to the Health Minister. Academic leadership from Parul University Goa was represented by Dr. Aseem Yadav (Dean, College of Physiotherapy), Dr. Anupam Kumar (Dean, College of Applied and Health Sciences), Dr. Jeyalakshmi K (Dean, College of Nursing), among other deans.
Student Involvement
More than 350 students from Parul University Goa, drawn from Nursing, Physiotherapy and Applied and Health Sciences programmes, participated in the inauguration and took an oath committing to professional conduct, decision‑making and interaction that serve the trust placed in them by the community. Student reflections highlighted the importance of extending healthcare services beyond the classroom and gaining first‑hand exposure to public‑health operations.
Statements
Dr. Devanshu Patel emphasized that healthcare is truly meaningful only when its benefits reach those who need them most, and that the collaboration with Goa DHS is intended to improve the availability of physiotherapy and rehabilitation services in public facilities, thereby closing the gap between academic expertise and practical healthcare needs. He described the initiative as a platform for future healthcare professionals to serve society through meaningful work.
Significance
The inauguration reaffirms the joint commitment of Parul University Goa and the Directorate of Health Services to expand community‑oriented healthcare through the collaboration of educational institutions and public health authorities. By establishing physiotherapy clinics in district, primary and community health settings, the project seeks to make rehabilitation more accessible and to strengthen the role of physiotherapy in holistic patient care throughout the state of Goa.
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