“The deputations of the Medical Officers' will be cancelled to provide quality health care facilities in the State Government hospitals especially those falling in the border and remote areas.” This was disclosed here today by the Health and Family Welfare Minister, Punjab, Mr. Balbir Singh Sidhu in the maiden meeting with all civil surgeons at Kalyan Bhawan.Divulging more, the minister said that the Civil Surgeons should ensure in their respective hospitals that doctors only prescribe medicines available in the government hospitals so that the needy people do not have to buy medicines from private chemists at exorbitant prices.Mr. Sidhu said that to further improve the performance of hospitals and streamlining their functioning, 535 nurses (ANM) have been recruited under the National Health Mission last month and another 114 nurses will be recruited by the last week of June.The Minister was also apprised by the Civil Surgeons posted in all the Districts regarding vacancies in the medical staff cadre and sought the details of all the vacant posts within a week. In the aftermath of this, the recruitment process of the vacancies in the Health Department would be initiated.The Minister while reviewing the health and wellness centres said that these have been established to provide 13 essential health services and up till now, 847 centres have been made functional with 419 Community Health Officers being appointed for the purpose.
He also detailed that till August, 2019, a total of 553 Community Health Officers would be appointed at the health and wellness centres and 1800 sub-centres would be turned into wellness centres. He also said that computers would also be provided to the Community Health Officers for on-lining of the details of the patients.During the course of the meeting, the Additional Chief Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Department, Punjab, Mr. Satish Chandra brought to the notice of the minister that Punjab and Andhra Pradesh have been adjudged better performing states on the parameters of establishing health and wellness centres.The Additional Chief Secretary also said that the Civil Surgeons ought to ensure in their respective Districts that the Senior Medical Officers pay a personal visit to the sub-centres so as to effectively implement the services being provided to mothers and children.The Minister on the occasion felicitated the SMO Machhiwara (Ludhiana), Mukandpur (Nawanshahar), Gurusar Sudhar (Ludhiana), Baba Bakala (Amritsar) and Kaalomajra (Patiala) for showing good performance.Among others present on the occasion included Chairman, Punjab Health Systems Corporation Mr. Amardeep Singh Cheema, Mission Director National Health Mission Mr. Amit Kumar, Director Health Services Dr. Jaspal Kaur, Director Health and Family Welfare Dr. Avneet Kaur, Director National Health Mission Rita Bhardwaj and Civil Surgeons.