In a move aimed at enhancing healthcare accessibility for the people of the state, the Punjab Health System Corporation (PHSC) and the Hans Foundation Dehradun have joined hands to provide free dialysis facilities to needy patients across the state.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) formalizing this collaboration was signed on Tuesday between Dr Rupinder Singh Gill, Nodal Officer for Dialysis Programme, and Seema Singh, Group Senior Manager from the Hans Foundation, in the presence of Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh.

Health Minister Dr Balbir highlighted the key aspects of the MOU, emphasizing that the Hans Foundation would provide trained medical officers, support staff, consumables, dialysis machines, and reverse osmosis (RO) plants to the department. The foundation will also oversee the operations of these dialysis centers.

“In the initial phase, the foundation will establish dialysis centers at 10 government facilities, ensuring that needy patients can avail themselves of dialysis services free of cost,” said Dr Balbir. He further conveyed that this collaboration aimed at addressing the healthcare needs of the underprivileged, with plans to expand the initiative by establishing more such dialysis facilities in the future.

The partnership between the Punjab Government and the Hans Foundation is poised not only to offer free dialysis services to economically disadvantaged patients but also to alleviate the burden of travel distances, making critical healthcare services more accessible to those in need.

‘108’ Ambulance Employees' Union Ends Strike

The ‘108’ Ambulance Employees' Union on Tuesday called off their strike following the intervention of Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh. The employees of Ziqitza Healthcare Limited (ZHL) — outsourced company to provide emergency medical and ambulance services — were demanding reinstatement of ousted employees and annual increment in their wages. Notably, ambulance services were functional uninterruptedly during the strike.

The Minister chaired a meeting with the representatives of ZHL Company and Union members to amicably resolve all the issues and fulfil long pending genuine demands of aggrieved employees. “I have ordered to immediately reinstate 20 employees, who were ousted by the company. While, grievances redressal committee will be constituted,” said the Minister. Dr Balbir also directed the entrusted company to ensure annual increment of all the employees.