PUNJAB HEALTH DEPARTMENT ON FULL ALERT FOR ANY EMERGENCY SITUATION : HEALTH MINISTER REVIEWS PREPAREDNESS

Chandigarh, 30 September, 2016: Punjab's Health Department has made all necessary arrangements for tackling any types of medical emergencies in view of escalated tension in the border areas. A meeting of senior officers was called here today by Health Minister Punjab Sh.Surjit Kumar Jyani, in which Principal Secretary Health Ms.Vini Mahajan, Secretary Health cum MD-PHSC Sh.Hussan Lal, Director Health Services Dr. H.S. Bali and other senior officers were present. All the preparatory arrangements at the level of Health & Family Welfare Department for providing smooth medical services in case of any emergency situations were reviewed in the meeting.
Sh.Surjit Kumar Jyani informed that directions have been given to all the officers of the department, specially the Civil Surgeons of border districts of Amritsar, Ferozepur, Fazilka, Tarntarn, Gurdaspur and Pathankot to remain on full alert. All kinds of leaves of Medical and paramedical staff posted in hospitals in the effected areas have been cancelled with immediate effect. Rural Medical Officers posted in the districts have also been asked to provide their services in affected areas as required by the Health Department. Civil Surgeons have been told to ensure that all ambulances should be checked and fully functional to tackle any type of adverse eventuality. They have further been directed to maintain adequate stock of medicines and other essential drugs including availability of blood of all groups in the blood banks in the Govt hospitals. Adequate funds have already been given to the districts. Even the Department of Medical Education & Research has been requested to direct the Govt. Medical Colleges Faridkot, Amritsar to ensure availability of adequate no. of doctors and paramedical staff, medicines and equipments round the clock. Mobile Medical Units (MMUs) have been withdrawn from their regular tour plans and deputed in all Camps where people evacuated from border areas are being lodged. He said that additional staff for the border districts would be mobilized from adjoining districts, if required.
Principal Secretary, Health Ms. Vini Mahajan informed that emergency medical response services dial-108 have been put on high alert along-with toll free Medical Helpline no. 104. Drug Warehouses have been alerted to procure and keep ready the adequate stocks of life saving drugs, medicines, consumables etc. to ensure an uninterrupted supply chain of medicines to the health institutions of the border districts. She added that the Hospitals/Health institutions in the affected areas from where people are being evacuated shall also be shifted after whole of the population is completely evacuated to the new locations.