In fulfillment of state government’s commitment to provide the best Healthcare and diagnostic facilities to the people across the state, the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today secured All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Doaba region somewhere near Jalandhar. A decision regarding it was taken by the Union Health Minister Dr. Harshvardhan during a meeting with the Chief Minister, who called on the former at his office at Nirman Bhawan this morning.Taking part in deliberations the Chief Minister, while underscoring the need for setting up in AIIMS in the state, said that it was the need of the hour to impart quality Healthcare services to the people of Punjab. Batting for establishing this prestigious hospital in the centre of the state, Mr. Badal said that it would provide an easy access to patients from across the state to avail quality treatment at the shortest possible time. He said that on its part the state government would provide 200 acres of land free of cost to the Government of India (GoI) for setting up this project.Assuring fulsome support and cooperation to the Chief Minister, Dr. Harshvardhan said that the centre would set up this state-of-the art medical institute in the state. He said that once the proposal regarding the allotment of land was finalized by the state government then the GoI would immediately initiate steps to bring the project on the ground.
Raising another issue, the Chief Minister urged Dr. Harshavardhan to expedite the release of funds worth Rs 120 crore already sanctioned by the GoI for setting up State Cancer Institute at Government Medical College, Amritsar. Likewise, Mr. Badal also sought the intervention of the Union Minister to take up the case for increasing the seats of MBBS and PG seats in the state medical colleges with the Medical Council Of India, to overcome the shortage of Doctors in the state.Flagging up the issue of drug menace in the state, the Chief Minister sought the support of Union Health Ministry in tackling this grave problem engulfing the youth of Punjab. He impressed upon the Union Minister to set up Advance Drug de-addiction centers in the state with adequate manpower, logistics and infra structural back up for detoxification and rehabilitation of the drug addicts. Mr. Badal sought financial grant of Rs 200 crore to cope up with the crisis arisen out of drug menace.Highlighting another significant issue, the Chief Minister apprised Dr. Harshavardhan that Government Ayurvedic College Patiala was one of the oldest and premier institute of the region but admissions were not allowed in it from last three years despite of the fact that the state government has made the requisite arrangements for adequate infra structure and faculty in it.
He sought the Union Minister’s personal intervention for requisite permission to reopen this institute besides allowing admissions of new batch. This initiative would certainly help to hasten research and education in Ayurvedic system of medicine, he added.During the meeting the Chief Minister also raised the issue of bringing the pay of the contractual employees of National Rural Health Mission at par with the regular government employees. Likewise, he said that the present allocation of Rs 5 crore for construction of building and hostel for ANM/ GNM schools was too inadequate and thus it should be revised to Rs 7. 5 crore per school. Mr. Badal also urged the Union Minister to expedite the process of sanctioning 11 new trauma centers across the state, in wake of the surge in road accidents in Punjab.
The Chief Minister also asked Dr. Harshvardhan to include the small and marginal farmers of the state in the centrally sponsored scheme of State Illness Fund, under which Rs 1.5 lakh was currently given to BPL patients for treatment of around three terminal diseases, keeping in view their poor economic position due to negligible returns on the farming in the current scenario. He said that this pro-poor initiative would go a long way in providing quality healthcare facilities to a major chunk of unprivileged society. Mr. Badal also highlighted the issue of resuming the share of GoI for the operationalization of 108 Ambulance service in the state, which was abruptly stopped by the UPA government.
Responding to the issues raised by the Chief Minister, Dr. Harshvardhan assured him that he would get all these matters resolved in the coming days. The Union Minister also assured Mr. Badal that centre would facilitate the state government in setting up Advance drug de-addiction centers in Punjab. Likewise, he also directed the officers of Union Health Ministry to immediately restore the financial support of 20% given to the state under NHRM for operationlising108 Ambulance service in the state.
The Chief Minister was accompanied by Cabinet Minister Mr. Anil Joshi, his Principal Secretary Mr. SK Sandhu, Principal Secretary Health and Family Welfare Mrs. Vinnie Mahajan and Managing Director Punjab Health Services Corporation (PHSC) Mr. Hussan Lal.