It must be ensured that all kind of free medicines being provided by the Health Department are adequately available in all the Government Hospitals and people of the state don’t have to run from pillar to post to get these basic medicines and they don’t have to pay from their pocket to purchase these medicines from private drug stores
.No laxity in providing the basic quality medicines and treatment would be tolerated. This is my prime agenda that citizen of the state get quality healthcare services in the Government Hospitals of the State. It was said by Mr. Balbir Singh Sidhu, Health and Family Welfare Minister while chairing the maiden meeting with HODs of all the wings of Health Department. The Minister said ,”Monsoon season is going to set up soon , so I also request you all to brace up your sleeves and be ready to provide all the dedicated services to the citizen of the state to avoid the outbreak of any potential epidemic. Health Department is one of the very sensitives and crucial departments and the duties of the doctors are not only to provide the health services to the citizen but also to sensitize the masses to adopt healthy life style. I expect that medical and paramedical staff of the health department would do their duty with sincerity to wipe out the tears from the eyes of the patients suffering from various diseases. “Mr. Balbir Singh Sidhu,today after assuming charge of the office held a marathon meeting with all the wings of the department at the office of Director Health and Family Welfare sector 34 Chandigarh. Mr Satish Chandra, Additional Chief Secretary of the Department welcomed the Minister and gave a brief introduction of the various programmes of the department.
While reviewing the Mother and Child Healthcare programme, The Minister exhorted the Director Family Welfare to ensure that institutional deliveries are increased in the government hospitals and the high risk pregnant women are getting the best healthcare services to further reduce the Mother Mortality Ratio ( MMR) and Infant Mortality Rate ( IMR).While discussing the working of ESI hospitals , the Minister expressed satisfaction that the Punjab Government has filled all the vacant posts of Doctors and other paramedic staff earmarked for Punjab for the ESI hospitals and Dispensaries. Mr. Sidhu asked the officers to streamline the functioning of these ESI hospitals to provide health services to the registered labourers and other construction workers . Mr. Sidhu asked the ACS to convene a meeting of the ESI hospitals and Dispensaries to review the progress on the directions issued in this meeting.Institutional deliveries, Immunization programme, child and women healthcare, Mental Health and De addiction programme,TB control programme, AIDS control programme and functioning of Health and Wellness centres were also discussed in the meeting. The minister also instructed the officers of the department to ensure that different employees are wearing proper uniform while working in the HospitalsMr. Amit Kumar MD, NHM , Dr. Jaspal Kaur, Director Health Services, Dr. Avneet Kaur, Director Family Welfare, Dr. Rita Bhardwaj, Director NHM, Dr. Jagpal Singh Bassi, Director ESI, Dr. Meena Hardeep , Director PHSC and all the Deputy Directors of the Health Department including Mr. Harkesh Chand Sharma, Machhli Kalan, Political Secretary of the Health Minister was present in the meeting.