Balbir Singh Sidhu, the Health & Family Welfare and Labour Minister, Punjab today said that the Fazilka city would soon get a new bus stand. He said that this new bus stand would be constructed in front of Deputy Commissioner Office on Fazilka-Abohar road. He said that the construction work would soon be initiated as all the obstacles in the way of constructing this new bus stand has been resolved. This announcement was made by the Minister, while chairing the District Grievance Redressal Committee meeting of district Fazilka.The Minister also issued strict instructions for all the officers participating in the meeting to work sincerely to implement the flagship programs of the Punjab Government in stipulated time period. During the meeting, the Minister also discussed the problems being faced by the farmers in the grain market of Tehsil Fazilka and Jallalabad. He asked the officers of Mandi Board to check the feasibility of increasing the Fadis in these grain markets and also to resolve the stagnation of water.While discussing the others agenda items pertaining to the development works of district Fazilka, Mr. Sidhu issued instructions to the officers to pay special attention for providing potable drinking water to the citizens and to resolve the perennial sewerage problem, Likewise, he also ask the officers to improve the road network. He asked the Xen Sewerage board and EO Abohar to complete the 85km long sewerage work till 30 September and road works till 31 December. He asked the Deputy Commissioner Mr. Manpreet Singh Chhatwal to personally visit and monitor all the development works.After the meeting, the Minister also listened to the problems of the citizens and directed the officers on the spot to resolved the problems on priority basis.
Later, while interacting with the media persons, the Health and Family Welfare Minister said that the to meet the scarcity of specialist doctors in the state, the retirement age limit of doctors from 58 to 65 is being considered by the state government. He said that during previous regime of SAD-BJP government, doctors had been recruited on the basic salary, which resulted in creating scarcity of specialist doctors. "Previous government's policies have created a gap of 7 to 8 years to recruit doctors in the health department", he said, adding that under the able guidance of Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, the state government has again extended salary packages of doctors. And Now, doctors are returning to the government job. He said that the objective behind the decision to raise retirement age limit from 58 to 65 years is that recruitment of young doctors will fill the gap of 7 years' scarcity.Answering the queries, the minister announced that experts doctors at Fazilka would be sent soon. He said that he would preside over maiden meeting of the health department on June 11, in which information of vacant posts of doctors in the hospitals, buildings of hospitals and medical equipments will be collected and after this, the border district would be provided the required doctors. He said that deployment of medical and paramedical staff will also done after the completion of the construction work of the district hospital and cancer hospital at Fazilka.
Divulging the new formula "Right Treatment at the Right Time", the Minister said that this would be his priority. He said that he would work seriously to ensure the availability of doctors and medicines in the hospital so that the commitment of Congress government to provide cheaper and best treatment could be fulfilled. He said that he would also ensure availability of free life-saving 236 medicines in all hospitals of the state. Apart from this, the upgradation work of generic medicine centres will be done on priority basis. Mr. Sidhu announced that he will conduct surprise checking from next month to ensure the presence of staff in the hospitals. He further said that it is also prime duty of the private hospitals to provide first aid to the patient, if these hospitals showed inattentiveness towards their duty, serious action would be taken against them. Mr. Sidhu said that the functioning of drug de-addiction and rehabilitation centres will also be improved.
Approval for One Stop Centre
Balbir Singh Sidhu gave its approval for specialized one stop centre for victimized ladies and girls and directed civil surgeon to complete all the arrangements for this centre in new building of district hospital at Fazilka and ensure deployment of the required staff.Prominent amongst other, who were present on the occasion included; MLA Fazilka Mr. Davinder Singh Ghubaya, MLA Balluana Mr. Nathu Ram, MLA Abohar Mr. Arun Narang, Deputy Commissioner Mr. Mr. Manpreet Singh Chhatwal, SSP Mr. Deepak Hilori, Political Secretary of Health Minister Mr. Harkesh Chand Sharma Machhali Kalan, Congress leader Mr. Ranjam Kamra and Mr. BD Kalra.