Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal today said that the Punjab government was spending Rs 300 crore for purchase of medical equipment in the state to combat Covid 19.Interacting with the Doctors and para medical staff after dedicating Covid 19 virus tertiary care centre here at Billa Chuharmi near Nakodar, the Minister, accompanied by Lok Sabha MP Chaudhary Santokh Singh and MLAs Mr Pargat Singh and Mr Hardev Singh Laddi Sherowalia, said that Punjab government led by Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has no dearth of funds to combat this pandemic. He said that medical equipments worth RS 100 crore each were being purchased during months of April, May and June. Mr Badal assured the people of state that every effort would be made to provide succour to people in this hour of crisis.The Minister said that the pandemic which has spread in 200 countries across the globe has given a major setback to economy in the entire globe. He said that the state government has already set up a panel under renowned economist and former Vice Chairman of National Planning Commission Dr Montek Singh Ahluwalia to suggest ways and means for steering the state’s economy out of fiscal stress due to pandemic. Mr Badal said that no stone would be left unturned to secure the interests of Punjabis in this hour of crisis.Describing the entire medical fraternity including Doctors and para medical staff as messiahs of people, the Minister said that their immense contribution in combatting the Corona virus effectively in India would be gloriously remembered in the annals of history. He said that the medical fraternity has been doing wonderful job during the fight against Corona Virus. Mr Badal urged the people to support the battle against Corona by confining to their homes during lockdown/ curfew.
The Minister dedicated Sant Waryam Singh Dahiya (SWSD) Hospital, named after renowned freedom fighter, on Jalandhar Moga Highway. The hospital equipped with ultra modern facilities like operation theatre, X-Ray room and others would have 20 bedded isolation facilities with ventilators and other Intensive Care Unit facilities. The initiative was a brain child of Punjab President of Indian Medical Association Dr. Navjot Singh Dahiya and former President Dr GS Gill who have roped in renowned hospitals viz. Global Multi- Speciality Hospital, Johal Multi-Speciality Hospital, New Ruby Hospital, NHS Hospital, Oxford Hospital, Patel Hospital, PGI Hospital, Shakuntla Devi Memorial Hospital, Tagore Hospital, Virk Fertility Centre, Carmax Hospital, Nova IVF Hospital and Janta Hospital for providing services.The Doctors and other staff from these hospitals would be providing their services in this hospital 24X7 for effectively combating the Corona Virus. Apart from it the Indian Medica Association has also asked the Doctors to provide isolation facility in every private hospital also.Lok Sabha MP Chaudhary Santokh Sjngh also lauded the efforts being made by the Indian Medical Association for combating this war against humanity. Appreciating the humanitarian gesture of the Indian Medical Association in this hour of crisis, he said that it was the need of hour to combat the Covid-19 efficaciously.On the occasion, Lok Sabha MP Chaudhary Santokh Singh, MLAs Mr Pargat Singh and Mr Hardev Singh Laddi Sherowalia, the Deputy Commissioner Jalandhar Mr. Varinder Kumar Sharma, Senior Superintendent of Police Mr. Navjot Singh Mahal, Sub Divisional Magistrates Mr Amit Kumar and Dr Sanjeev Sharma, Dr Pankaj Paul, Dr Chander Bowry, Dr. Raman Chawla, Dr PS Bakshi, Dr. Jasmine Kaur Dahiya and others were also present. besides others were also present.