Punjab Medical Education and Research Minister Dr. Raj kumar Verka, on Monday, directed the department authorities to expedite the work of ongoing development projects in Government Medical College, Amritsar. The minister said that the state government is incurring Rs.341.50 crore for these projects to transform medical facilities in the institution.The minister was chairing a high-level meeting with the officials of the department including Dr. Raj Bahadur, Vice Chancellor, Baba Farid University of Health Sciences Faridkot, Dr. Avnish Kumar,DRME and Dr. Akashdeep and Dr. Puneet Girdhar both Joint Directors.Referring to the role being played by Amritsar Government Medical College since 1920, Dr. Verka said, "I will leave no stone unturned to transform medical facilities at Government Medical College and Guru Nanak Dev Hospital Amritsar", adding that at present projects of Rs.190.36 crore were underway in the Medical College.
Of which, work on Resident Hostel, State Cancer Institute and Girls Hostels will be completed by this month while 50 quarters for Group C/D, mortuary, dental hostels and nursing hostels are expected to be completed by December. The repair and renovation work will be completed by March 2022 at a cost of Rs.104 crore and 60% of the work of this project has been completed so far. It may be recalled that works worth Rs.16.5 crore have already been completed in the Medical College including the Basic Science Block and Student Center.Dr. Verka informed that other new projects worth Rs.134.64 crores are under process for approval for Government Medical College and Guru Nanak Dev Hospital, Amritsar. These include STP, ETP, sewerage line, warden houses, open air theater, doctors' residences, new boys' hostel, sports facilities, TB hospital, model blood bank and trauma center/emergency block. He said that all the works will be completed by December 2022, while the target for completion of the work of the trauma center/emergency block has been set for March 2023. Dr. Verka strictly directed the officials to carry out all these works within stipulated time so that better medical facilities can be provided to the people.