In a major relief to cancer patients across the state, the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today gave his nod for starting the cashless scheme of providing treatment to the cancer patients of the state in empanelled hospitals under the Mukh Mantri Cancer Raahat Kosh from January, 2014.A decision to this effect was taken by the Chief Minister while presiding over a high level review meeting of the Health Department here at his residence this morning.Underscoring the need for imparting quality treatment to the cancer patients in a hassle free manner, the Chief Minister said that with the launching of this scheme there would be no need for getting any prior sanction of the officers for getting the cancer treatment and the cancer patients could avail the best treatment facilities in the empanelled hospitals at affordable cost by simply moving in the hospitals. Mr. Badal said that this scheme would prove to be a big boon for the cancer patients as under it the entire expenditure on his treatment would be borne by the state government. However he said that the benefit of this scheme must be extended to the cancer patients so as to give them timely and prompt relief, for which a comprehensive awareness campaign must be started by the Health department.
During the meeting, the Chief Minister also approved the proposal of the Health department to conduct special screening for Diabetes/ hypertension of the persons above the age group of 30 years. Expressing concern over the rising cases of Heart attacks and strokes, he said that it was the need of the hour to conduct such preventive screening across the state for saving many precious lives. Mr. Badal was apprised that this project of screening would be launched on pilot basis in four districts of Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar (Nawanshehar), Mansa, Sri Muktsar Sahib and Tarn Taran in February 2014.The Chief Minister also directed the Health department to establish Mother Child Centers in the Medical Colleges and Hospitals of the state government to further decrease the Infant Mortality Ratio (IMR) and Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR). He said that the Health department must lay special focus on saving the lives of infants and mothers during the deliveries by providing best medical treatment and facilities to them. Mr. Badal envisioned that the state should set up an example for other states by having the minimum IMR and MMR in the country.
Emphasizing on the need for complete facelift of Health department in the state to provide quality medical services to the people, the Chief Minister said that the state would leave no stone unturned in this direction. He said that the work of strengthening the infra structure in 100 government hospitals including District Hospitals, Sub pisional and Community Health care centres must be expedited so as to facilitate the general public. Mr. Badal said that these hospitals must be equipped with the facilities of emergency for giving quality health services to the people round the clock.During the deliberations the Chief Minister was apprised that Prof. Rajesh Kumar from School of Public Health PGIMER was monitoring the entire services rendered by the Health department for assessing them in larger public interest. It was informed that Prof. Rajesh Kumar had already completed the evaluation of Health services in nine districts of the state and remaining districts would also be completed soon. On the occasion Prof. Rajesh Kumar also presented the report regarding evaluation of Ambulance Service in Punjab to the Chief Minister.Prominent amongst those present in the meeting included Cabinet Miniuster Mr. Surjit Kumar Jiyaani, Chief Parliamentary Secretaries Mrs. Navjot Kaur Sidhu and Mrs. Mohinder Kaur Josh, Principal Secretary Health Mrs. Vinni Mahajan, Health Advisor to the state government Dr. KK Talwar, Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. KJS Cheema, renowned doctors and senior officers of the Health department.