Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Wednesday ordered a crackdown on private medical and dental colleges engaged in the business of making money at the cost of the future of the students, warning them to either perform or close shop.The Chief Minister issued these orders at a review meeting of the Departments of Medical Education & Research and Health & Family Welfare here to discuss the problems faced by the medical institutions in the state, including the controversy-ridden Gian Sagar and Chintpurni medical colleges.Captain Amarinder warned that private medical and dental colleges found violating admission norms and not delivering quality education would be shut down, making it clear that his government would not allow such institutions to play with the future of students.During the discussion, the Secretary Medical Education & Research informed the Chief Minister that the department had already clamped down on such private colleges, especially the nursing institutions found to be flouting the prescribed norms for admissions and not imparting quality education to the students.
Amid complaints of lack of funds faced by most government medical colleges, the Chief Minister asked Chief Secretary Karan Avtar Singh to ensure that central funds reserved for medical education are made available to these colleges for infrastructure upgradation and other measures to enhance education quality. He also asked the Chief Secretary to look into the medical education department’s complaint that it was not receiving state funding, and work out the modalities for fund allocation from the state exchequer as feasible.Captain Amarinder asked the Vice Chancellor BFUHS to prepare a blueprint in consultation with the Department of Medical Education & Research to improve the functioning of the medical colleges in order to provide the best medical and health care services to the people across the state. Capt Amarinder said paucity of funds would not be allowed to hamper the functioning of these colleges.The Chief Minister asked the department officials to explore upgradation of medical facilities in the state with eminent medical specialist Dr. Naresh Trehan.
The issue of the pathetic situation in Ayurvedic College Hospital Patiala also came up for discussion and the Chief Minister directed the department to take the necessary steps to address the same.The problem of PIMS Jalandhar was also taken up at the meeting. The Chief Minister asked the authorities to identify alternatives, other than fee hike, to recover recurring costs. He suggested that the institution, with its world-class infrastructure, be handed over to some reputed medical group like Medanta, after following proper procedure, in order to optimally utilize its potential.Underlining his government’s focus on e-governance in order to bring in greater transparency and accountability in the systems and processes in medical institutions, the Chief Minister instructed them to go in for computerization of all patient records, in line with corporates engaged in medical service. He also directed the introduction of electronic smart health cards, linked with Aadhar, in order to boost efficiencies, streamline systems and checking fudging of records etc.Captain Amarinder asked the department to look into the possibility of revising the salaries of super specialists working in the hospitals attached to the medical colleges, to bring them at par with doctors in private hospitals in order to attract the right talent. Captain Amarinder also suggested roping in specialists to teach at medical colleges to enhance education quality.
The Chief Minister further directed the department to fill up all faculty vacancies within three weeks, and ensure that no medical seats are lost, according to the official spokesperson.Taking note of the pre-condition of Punjabi in hiring of technical and medicos, the Chief Minister urged the department to review the hiring rules in the medical sector as linking recruitment to Punjabi language would lead to talent crunch.He also directed the authorities to initiate the process of setting up a state cancer institute to combat the problem of increasing number of cancer cases being reported from Punjab. Taking part in the deliberations, Vice Chancellor BFUHS Dr. Raj Bahadur told the Chief Minister about special initiatives taken by Sri Guru Gobind Singh Medical College, Faridkot to provide the best health care and diagnostic facilities to the cancer patients.
The Principal Secretary Health and Family Welfare informed in the meeting that the department had already started short term courses in gynecology, radiology, dentistry and physiotherapy in the government medical colleges to enable our youth to be gainfully employed and were being imparted training by the retired medical faculty in these courses.Wrapping up the discussion, the Chief Minister said that all the government medical colleges, especially at Patiala and Amritsar, had a rich legacy of over 100 to 150 years but were unfortunately now in the doldrums. He reiterated his commitment to restore the pristine glory of these colleges.Prominent amongst those who attended the meeting were Health and Family Welfare Minister Mr. Braham Mohindra, Chief Secretary Karan Avtar Singh, Secretary Medical Education & Research Mr. Vikas Partap, Principal Secretary Health & Family Welfare Mrs. Anjali Bhawra, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Tejveer Singh, Vice Chancellor Baba Farid University of Health Sciences Dr. Raj Bahadur and Director Medical Education & Research Dr. Sujata Sharma.