Aiming at strengthening the healthcare network across Punjab, the State Government has identified nothing less than 100 health institutions to provide 24X7 comprehensive medical services — including emergency, deliveries and trauma services — for every patient within a radius of 10 km.
While presiding over a high-level meeting of Health, Medical Education and Research departments, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal approved a plan of Rs102 crore to accomplish the remaining works in this regard within three months.
For the purpose, 22 district hospitals, 41 sub-divisional hospitals and 37 community health centres (CHCs) that are equipped with latest medical and diagnostic facilities have been selected.
Badal directed the Health Department to accelerate the procedure for filling up all the vacant posts and ensure 100 percent availability of specialists and MBBS doctors besides, other para-medical staff in all hospitals in a time bound manner.
Accepting the request of Principal Secretary Health and Medical Education Vini Mahajan to ensure the smooth functioning of healthcare services in the State, the Chief Minister approved to create about 200 additional posts against the doctors who had proceeded for higher studies.
Emphasising on the dire need to make the general public beware about the prevention and control of communicable and non-communicable diseases, including locally endemic diseases, the Chief Minister asked the Health department to launch a massive awareness campaign soon.
Badal also asked the department to chalk out a plan for establishing separate hospitals or mother and child care wings. He further directed the department to create a system under which every newborn be given intensive health care for the crucial first month even after being discharged from the hospital.
Chief Minister also approved the setting up of drug de-addiction services in Central Jails and would launch 'prison drug de-addiction programme' at ludhiana Jail soon.
Badal also asked the department to chalk out the modalities for introducing pay clinic system in the medical colleges for the working doctors to shun the practice of their working in the private health Institution after the college hours.