Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said that the state government was committed to lead the country in providing best quality Cancer diagnostic and treatment facilities and it would soon emerge as a world class health tourist destination in view of excellent health infra structure and the best brains in medical fraternity existing here. Expressing these views after inaugurating Fortis cancer institute here today, the Chief Minister impressed upon the key players in the private Health sector to come forward in setting up such quality Health care institutes especially in the small towns and cities to provide the best medical facilities to the people at affordable rates. He said that Cancer was such a deadly disease which spares none howsoever affluent or resourceful he/ she might be. Striking an emotional chord, Mr. Badal said that he has lost his beloved father and wife to the monster of Cancer.
Listing the initiatives taken by the state government to combat the deadly menace of Cancer, the Chief Minister said that the state government was offering free cashless treatment to the patients inflicted with Cancer in 17 empanelled hospitals. Likewise, he said that world class Tata Memorial Cancer Institute was also coming up at Mullanpur near Chandigarh, which would further propel the best Cancer treatment practices in the region. Mr. Badal also said that Radiotherapy facilities were already being provided at Medical colleges Amritsar, Faridkot and Patiala to effectively treat the cancer patients. Besides this the state government had already disbursed Rs 188 crore to nearly 16770 patients @ of Rs 1.50 lakh, suffering with this fatal disease under the Chief Minister’s Cancer Relief Fund.
The Chief Minister called upon the Fortis Group to further make huge investments in the Health sector at the upcoming Medicity Mullanpur by setting up other super specialty medical institutes besides affording an opportunity to unemployed youth for horning their technical skills in the medical field. He offered fulsome support and cooperation to the group for setting up the state-of-the art Medical Skill Development Center anywhere in the state as it had tremendous potential to shape the future of the youth by ensuring gainful employment to them. Mr. Badal mentioned that the state government had already taken initiative in this direction to set up such skill centers at Patiala, Amritsar and Faridkot, where there were abundant opportunities for the youth to be absorbed in the technical and para medical staff.
Later talking to the media persons, the Chief Minister reiterated that the separate Committee for Management of Gurdwaras in Haryana would never happen in reality rather it was a deliberate attempt to pide the Sikhs and dilute their institutions. He said that the Sikh Panth would never succumb to these politically motivated tactics of Congress but was ever ready to give them a befitting reply. Mr. Badal said that he was in constant touch with the Government of India (GoI) through their emissary Mr. Shanta Kumar, who had assured of early resolution of this vexed issue adding he said that the Shiromani Akali Dal was not fond of organizing morchas but at the same time they would not allow the anti-Sikh forces to weaken their institutions. He said that the party would chalk out its future course of action on July 27 at Amritsar during the World Sikh Conference.
Asked to comment on the tough posture adopted by Cabinet Minister Mr. Anil Joshi in support of demands of traders, the Chief Minister said that he was his Cabinet colleague and it would have been far better if he had personally discussed this issue with him.On the occasion Chairman of Fortis Group Mr. Shavinder Mohan Singh and Executive Chairman Mr. Malwinder Mohan Singh felicitated the Chief Minister for offering all possible assistance and giving his visionary advice to them for providing Healthcare facilities at the affordable rates. The Chief Minister was accompanied by his Principal Secretary Mr. SK Sandhu and Special Principal Secretary Mr. KJS Cheema.