In a bid to provide the best treatment and diagnostic facilities to the cancer patients across the state, the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today approved a comprehensive plan of nearly Rs.300 crore to equip the government medical colleges Patiala, Amritsar, Faridkot besides cancer hospital at Bathinda with the super specialty facilities. A decision to this effect was taken by Mr. Badal during a meeting with the top brass of the departments of state health & family welfare and medical education & Research here at Chief Minister’s resident this morning.
Reiterating his firm commitment to stamp out the cancer from the state, Mr. Badal said that paucity of funds would not be allow to hamper the state’s mission to provide the best available treatment to the patients inflicted with cancer. He further said: “None of any cancer patient would be deprived of the best medical care facilities in the state of penury and would be provided the best treatment at these hospitals equipped with the latest medical care, research and diagnostic facilities”.
Badal also gave nod for the recruitment of highly qualified and experienced faculty in Nuclear medicine, surgical oncology, medical oncology and radiotherapy of these government medical colleges besides the installation of the latest equipment in departments of Radio diagnosis, Blood Transmission and Pathology to ensure the best treatment and diagnostic facilities to the cancer patients. He asked the Principal Secretary Health & Family Welfare to bring a composite proposal in this behalf for approval in the next Cabinet meeting slated to be held here on May 28.
The Chief Minister also go ahead for direct recruitment through a departmental selection committee by taking out these posts from the preview of Punjab Public Service Commission headed by Dr. KK Talwar and comprising Principal Secretary Medical Education & Research, Vice Chancellor BFUH Faridkot, Director PGI or his nominee, Director TMC or his nominee, Dr. Lalit Kumar, Prof. Medical Oncology, AIIMS New Delhi, Dr. DR Mittal, HOD Nuclear Medicine PGI Chandigarh, DRME besides a subject expert from the concerned specialty from AIIMS/PGI/TMC
Underscoring the need for training manpower to prepare the health personnel to cure the cancer patients efficiently, Mr. Badal agreed to the proposal mooted by Principal Secretary Health to send the required staff at TATA Memorial Cancer Hospital Mumbai and PGIMER for training in the existing facilities in radiotherapy, surgery, medicine, pathology, gynecology for a period of three to six months at TMH.
The Chief Minister asked the Principals of government medical college of Patiala and Amritsar to pose a comprehensive plan for upgradation of medical equipment and staff to the 14th Finance Commission for seeking requisite funds for this purpose. The Principal government medical college, Patiala apprised Mr. Badal that he had already sent a detailed proposal of Rs.165 crore for the upgradation of medical equipment and infrastructure with an objective to make this prestigious medical institution at par excellence with any of the country’s best medical & research hospital.
Meanwhile, the Principal Secretary Health & Family Welfare apprised Mr. Badal that she had already taken up the case of providing multi-level parking in the government medical college Amritsar and Patiala with the PIDB which would be cleared soon as assured by its Managing Director. She also informed the Chief Minister that the construction work of Sarai complex at government medical college Patiala would be entrusted to the Punjab Health Systems Corporation to ensure its timely completion. Mr. Badal lauded the contribution of Patiala Health Foundation – a NGO actively engaged in the health and family welfare activities. Mr. Badal also asked the Principal Government medical college Amritsar to envisage support from a reputed NGO for running the Sarai complex there in order to provide the best facilities to the attendants of the patients.Highlighting the role of congenial atmosphere in the hospitals in the recovery of patients, Mr. Badal emphasized that the buildings of these hospitals should be designed in such a manner equipped with the best facilities and gadgets like LEDs, Fridges, ACs etc in the private rooms and wall paintings in the lobbies and verandas to give a serene feeling to the patients. He also asked the Principals of medical colleges to explore the possibility of taping additional resources of funds to make these medical colleges and hospitals financially viable. Mr. Badal asked the Advisor on Health Dr. KK Talwar to recommend the health department for mobilizing additional resources of fund generation in consultation with the Principals of the government medical colleges.
Badal also asked the Principal Secretary Health to ensure that the entire medical equipment for upgradation of cancer treatment wings of these medical colleges to be purchased through the Tata Memorial Hospital Mumbai.Taking part in the deliberations, Dr. KK Talwar urged the Chief Minister to set up Nuclear medicine, medical physics and Oncology departments in the government medical colleges as these were the integral part of cancer treatment. He also emphasized the need to provide palliative care facilities to the cancer patients which could be best run with the help of NGOs, adding Dr. Talwar said large number of cancer patients were diagnosed in advanced stages and those who were treated for cure, ultimately had recurrence of disease in almost 50% and all these patients required palliative care in form of pain control and other symptoms control treatment. These patients also needed home as well as hospital care.
Badal asked the Chief Secretary to regularly hold meetings with the officers of health department to monitor the progress of ongoing upgradation of medical equipment and manpower in the government medical colleges and hospitals. He also directed the Principal Secretary Health & Family Welfare to prepare a detailed report for the upgradation of the cancer departments in the government medical colleges besides the upcoming cancer hospital at Bathinda so that he could also take up this matter with GoI at the level of Prime Minister, Finance Minister and Health Minister for seeking additional funds.
Prominent amongst others who were present in the meeting included Chief Secretary Mr. Rakesh Singh, Principal Secretary Health & Family Welfare Mrs. Vinni Mahajan, Special Secretary Expenditure Mr. Jaspal Singh, Chief Minister’s Special Principal Secretaries Mr. KJS Cheema and Mr. Gaggandip Singh Brar, Vice Chancellor Baba Farid University of Health Sciences Dr. SS Gill and Director Medical Educations & Research Dr. Tejbir Singh besides the principals of government medical colleges of Amritsar, Patiala and Faridkot.