Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Wednesday called for the introduction of comprehensive “Free Health Security” for the common man, especially the poor in the country, on lines of the Food Security Act.
Speaking at the launch of the ‘National Free Drug and Iron Plus Initiative’ scheme at Amritsar Government Medical College, Badal called upon the Centre to bring a legislation in this regard in the Parliament. He also promised his party’s full support to the measure.
“It is unfortunate that even after more than 65 years of independence, poor sections are still deprived of the quality medical health facilities….The need of the hour is to ensure that quality health services are ensured within the reach of the common man for which this noble initiative is required from the Centre,” said Badal.
Badal asks Centre to check cross border supply of drugs in Punjab Expressing concern over increasing trend of drug addiction in the State, Chief Minister asked the Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Ghulam Nabi Azaad to raise the issue of unabated drug supply from the borders into Punjab, with the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
“Agencies manning the county’s borders should be asked to maintain strict vigil so as to check the supply of drugs into the country. Union Minister should impose a blanket ban on poppy husk, which is selling freely in states like Rajasthan, so as to preserve people’s health,” said Badal.
Urges Minister to take steps for ascertaining causes of cancer in Punjab
laying thrust on the need to combat the deadly menace of cancer, drug addiction and female foeticide efficaciously, the Chief Minister said that the Centre must embark a major program to conduct a thorough research for ascertaining the causes of the cancer in the country.
“It is serious problem confronted by the country and the need of the hour is to take effective steps to counter this disease,” said Badal.
He said that the State Government has been constantly making endeavors to tackle this deadly disease, and has recently conducted a comprehensive door-to-door survey for detecting cancer amongst people so that it could be checked at an early stage.
likewise, Badal said, the medical colleges of Patiala, Amritsar and Faridkot were being upgraded with latest equipments to impart quality treatment to cancer patients free of cost. Advanced Cancer treatment centre was being set up at Bathinda by Baba Farid University, he added.