PUNJAB accelerates campaign against cancer and drug addiction: Mittal

Chandigarh, March 7, 2013: The Punjab Government has accelerated its drive against cancer and drug-addiction to eradication the menace from the state.

Keeping this in view, the Punjab Cabinet today gave its nod to ‘Punjab State Cancer and Drug-addiction Treatment Infrastructure Fund Bill-2013’.

Bill now be tabled in Punjab Legislative Assembly and would become act immediately after the approval of the house.

It was stated by Madan Mohan Mittal, Health Minister, Punjab.

In a press communiqué here today, he said that the state government would mobilise all its resources and would garner support from all the departments so that campaign against cancer and drug-addiction could be speed up on war footing. He said that the public would be sensitised about the social, psychological and economical ill-effects of drug addiction and awareness would be generated against cancer.

Mittal said that the state government had already conducted a survey on cancer in the state and now suspected cases and patients would be treated in government hospitals and medical centers. He said that the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has assured us that there would not be any dearth of funds required for this campaign.

Health Minister said that to further implement the provisions of this act ‘Punjab State Cancer and Drug-addiction Treatment Infrastructure Board’ would be constituted with Chief Minister, Punjab as its Chairperson. He further said that Health Minister, Finance Minister, Medical Education and Research Minister, Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary/Chief Minister, Principal Secretary/Medical Education & Research and Principal Secretary/Finance would be inducted as members, whereas and Principal Secretary/Health and Family Welfare would be Member Secretary of the Board.