Punjab Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh on Thursday said that Punjab Government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is all set to get the construction of Kapurthala Medical College started shortly as the tendering process is to be opened in the first week of February.
While reviewing the healthcare services at local Civil Hospital, Health Minister Dr. Balbir Singh said that the construction would be accomplished by the end of 2025 as all the pre-requisite had been put in place. The Minister also took stock of the land where the medical college would be setup.
Taking note of Aam Aadmi Clinics having less OPD as compare to others, the Minister said that directions had been issued to authorities concerned to start free of cost health screening drive in the said clinics for children, women, expectant ladies and elderly persons so that they could be benefitted from these clinics. He said that three such clinics were identified in Kapurthala district namely Paramjit Pur, Dadwindi and Khalu, where the ANMs had been directed to ensure free screening.
In another major development, the Minister announced that the Mukh Mantri Hospital Welfare Committees would be setup in Civil Hospitals across the state for the facilitation of general public vis-à-vis taking further requisite healthcare reforms. These committees will be comprised of senior doctors, members of NGOs and representatives of organizations interested for reforms in ongoing system as per the need, he added.
Saying that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann led State Government has already fulfilled the task to streamline healthcare services at PHCs, the Minister said the next round was focused at Sub-Division and District Level Hospitals. He said that the infrastructure is also being upgraded in these hospitals.
The Minister also announced that the number of free medicines i.e. presently 150 would be enhanced to 250 in all Civil Hospitals to provide these medicines to people. He said that Kapurthala Civil Hospital would be linked with the Amritsar Medical College to make healthcare services far more better under District Residency Program.
Answering a media query regarding shortage of doctors and other staff in Government Hospitals, Dr. Balbir Singh said that the recruitment blueprint had already been prepared under which as many as 1200 doctors and 1800 paramedics are being recruited. He also pointed out that on the need based arrangements the services of specialist doctors, who were near their superannuation, would be utilized after the age of 58 years as there was a proposal to extend the age limit of such doctors to 65 years.
Referring to another query, Dr. Balbir Singh also mentioned that the ICU would also be made operationalize within a few weeks in the Civil Hospital premises, which would also upgrade the medical facilities. He also interacted with the SMOs of the district to take stock of the medical services in Government Hospitals. The Minister also directed to ensure availability of basic amenities as well as services to the people.
Prominent amongst those present on the occasion included SDM Lal Biswas Bains, Civil Surgeon Dr. Rita Bala, Aam Aadmi Party leaders Sajjan Singh Cheema, Manju Rana, Chairman Improvement Trust Gurpal Singh Indian, District Planning Committee Chairperson Lalita Saklani and senior doctors of civil hospitals.