After the gap of more than 10 years, the Health facilities in the state would witness major boost as the biggest lot of 558 new doctors are joining the Health Department soon. Recruitment process has been over and the doctors are available for the posting. These newly recruited Doctors including specialists would be posted across the state at the Community Health Centres (CHC), Primary Health Centres (PHC) and District Hospitals as per the requisition of the Civil Surgeons. It was disclosed by Brahm Mohindra, Health and Family Welfare Minister while presiding over the special meeting of the Civil Surgeons convened to evaluate the staff position, OPD, Medicines, infrastructure at all the government hospitals of the state. Besides Mr. Satish Chandra, Additional Chief Secretary, Health & Family Welfare, Amit Kumar, MD, NHM, Mr. Harpal Singh Cheema, Chairman, PHSC all the Civil Surgeons and state programme officers were present in the meeting. The meeting was held at DHS Office, sector 34 Chandigarh.Health Minister said that this is major milestone achieved by the Health Department in fulfilling the promises made to the Public by Congress Party in its election manifesto. He said that despite the financial constraints, the health department has recruited the biggest lot of doctors in one go, after the gap of 10 years.
The Minister asked the Civil Surgeons to put up the requisition for the posting of Doctors at district, sub divisional, CHC and PHC level hospitals. The Minister assured that the posting of the Doctors would be made on rational grounds. He said that the preference would be given to make posting of the Doctors near their home towns which would ensure their competence, dedication and sincerity towards service.
Brahm Mohindra announced that the State Government has set priority to strengthen the Universal Health Scheme to provide indoor health cover to the 45 lakh families of state. He asked Mr. Satish Chandra, ACS to identify 10 district level hospitals which would be upgraded to provide tertiary health care services.Health Minister expressed his concern over the adverse reports that in some of the districts, buildings belonging to health department are lying vacant since long. He instructed the Civil Surgeons to make inventory of all such unused buildings so as to ensure the optimum use of this crucial infrastructure to improve the health services.The Minister during the meeting also reviewed the availability of medicine stock. In view of the coming festive season, the Minister instructed the Civil Surgeons to be well prepared to tackle any eventuality and to ensure the adequate stock of all generic medicines.The Minister also took stock of the status of the availability of testing machinery at the Civil Hospitals like ultra sound machines, X-ray machines, CB-NAAT and other machines. Some of the Civil Surgeons pointed out the dearth of such machines while some of Civil Surgeons raised the issue of out dated machinery. The Health Minister asked the ACS to make inventory on the demand of such testing machines at the Civil Hospitals and put up the case for the purchase of such machines.Mr. Brahm Mohindra applauded the exemplary work of Doctors who worked 24X7 to provide the much needed medical care and treatment to the victims of Amritsar Rail Tragedy at crucial hour. He expressed satisfaction over the professional approach of Doctors by saying that the work of health department in mitigating the miseries of Rail Tragedy victims has earned applause from every corner. Two minute silence was also observed during the meeting to pray for the eternal peace of the persons who lost their lives in Amritsar Rail Tragedy.