Balbir Singh Sidhu, Health and Family Minister Punjab handed over appointment letters to 130 Para-Medical Staff belonging to ESI Hospitals and Dispensaries of State.Disclosing this in a press communiqué Mr. Balbir Singh Sidhu said that the State Government is duty bound to strengthen the quality health services in the ESI Hospitals which caters services to the insured workers of Industries. He said that presently the ESI Hospitals are providing health services to about 13 lacs insured workers and their dependents. He said that the Congress Government after assuming the power in the state has given top priority to fill all the vacant posts in Government Hospitals as well as ESI Hospitals and dispensaries. Divulging the detail he said that among the 130 Para-Medical Staff to whom the appointment letters have been given, 55 are ANMs, 35 Staff Nurses, 28 Pharmacists, 11 Medical Laboratory Technicians and 1 is Radiographer.The Minister further said that in the recent past the health department has filled the vacant posts of 5 Specialist Doctors and 50 Medical Officers in ESI Hospitals and Dispensaries.
He said that now all the vacant positions of doctors in the ESI Hospitals stand cent percent filled. He said that the OPD services of the ESI Hospitals has witness steep rise after the filling of the vacant posts of doctors. He said that all the remaining vacant posts of Clerical and Para-Medical Staff would be filled soon. The Minister said that in order to eradicate the TB from the state, free TB diagnostic and treatment services to the workers would be extended in ESI Hospitals and Dispensaries. Likewise to conduct TB test, Designated Microscopic Centres would also be established. The Health Minister said that the insured workers and their dependents are getting free medicines from the ESI Hospitals.Prominent amongst other who were present on the occasion included Mr. Harkesh Chand Sharma, Political Secretary to Health Minister, Dr. Jaspal Kaur, Director, Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Avneet Kaur, Director, Health Services and Dr. Jagpal Singh Basi.