Punjab CM Okays Up-Gradation And Renovation Plan Of All Health Institutions

Chandigarh, May 4, 2015: To provide better medical facilities to the people across the state, the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today gave approval to a comprehensive plan of Health & Family Welfare Department for up-gradation and renovation of all the district hospitals of the state in the first phase.

A decision to this effect was taken by Badal during a meeting of senior officers of the health department to review the plan for up-gradation and renovation of health infrastructure here at Chief Minister’s Office this morning.

Principal Secretary Health & Family Welfare Vinni Mahajan apprised the Chief Minister about the proposal being mooted by the health department in the meeting, on the basis of survey conducted by them for the proposed up-gradation and renovation of the all the health institutions involving an expenditure of Rs. 560 crore. She also informed the Chief Minister that the department has prepared a project of Rs. 58.35 crore for the up-gradation, repair and renovation of the district hospitals.

While approving the project, the Chief Minister directed the health department to implement the proposed plan of up-gradation of health infrastructure in a phased manner so that the entire work could be accomplished in a smooth and effective manner. Under the first phase, he directed the health department to depute specialist doctors in all the district hospitals to ensure the best medical treatment and health care facilities to every patient especially the referral ones. Badal also directed the department to upgrade the existing health & medical infrastructure on the top priority.

It may be recalled that the health department has recently conducted a survey of all the health institutions including 22 district hospitals, 41 Sub Divisional hospitals, 141 Community Health Centers, 454 Primary Health Centers and 2950 Sub-centers on the direction of Chief Minister to assess the weaknesses and strength of the department. After due deliberations with the concerned doctors and para-medics, the Punjab Health Systems Corporation (PHSC) has chalked out a blue print for the proposed up-gradation and renovation of these health institutes at a cost of Rs. 560 crore.

To overcome the shortage of the doctors in the state hospitals, Mahajan informed that the test for the recruitment for the MBBS doctors would be held on May 31, 2015 and they were expected to join the duty in July this.

Prominent amongst those who were present in the meeting including Health Minister Surjit Kumar Jyani, Principal Secretary Health & Family Welfare Vinni Mahajan, Special Principal Secretary to CM KJS Cheema, MD PHSC Husan Lal and Director Health & Family Welfare Jatinder Kaur.