Interacting with the media, Sangrur MP Vijay Inder Singla informed that a major landmark for setting up the PGI Satellite Hospital in Sangrur has been achieved - 'Agency for carrying out work for the Sangrur Cancer hospital has been finalized' and he expected that work at the hospital site for the 500 bed hospital would begin soon. With the setting up of specialized diagnostic and treatment facilities in Sangrur thousands of people in Malwa region will be able to avail cost effective treatment for multiple diseases including Cancer near their homes and Sangrur MP hoped that in times to come Malwa people will no longer have to board the ' Cancer Express' to Rajasthan for Cancer diagnosis/treatment.
Sangrur MP remarked that recent cancellation of empanelment of a few hospitals by Punjab Govt on account of inadequate cancer diagnosis/treatment infrastructure is an indicator of the deep rooted mess in the system which needs an overhaul. Responding to changes made in the Punjab Ministerial Portfolios yesterday he stated that changing Health Ministers in Punjab is not enough and time has come to change this Government lock, stock and barrel.
Setting up of a PGI Satellite Centre in Sangrur is the first step said Vijay Inder Singla and stated that he will continue to fight this war on all fronts as the basic problem which is causing Cancer lies elsewhere and informed that he has written to the Prime Minister for setting up a Bio-bank in Punjab for storing cancer tissues to carry out clinical research and study causal linkages between agriculture & cancer. We also need to collectively move forward in addressing areas like excessive use of Fertilizers and Pesticides in agriculture, generating public opinion on ill- effects of tobacco, liquor abuse and water pollution through industrial discharge and municipal waste to nip the disease in the bud.