In a bid to ensure equal access to the best possible treatment for residents of the state, Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh on Friday called upon all the Private Hospitals to work in the tandem with the state government, while exhorting them to reserve some beds at their hospitals for the patients of economically weaker section so that they can also avail the healthcare facilities.
While presiding over the Healthcare and Pharmaceutical sector— Evolving Healthcare and Medical Ecosystem: Appraising, Adapting, Affecting Lives session during 2nd & concluding day of 5th Progressive Punjab Investors' Summit 2023 at India School of Business (ISB), SAS Nagar (Mohali) on Friday, Dr Balbir Singh said that here if anyone catch deadly disease like cancer, it led to push the affected family into impoverish condition, sometimes, even the treatment expenses cost their house and lands.
He said that when he started his own Hospital, he had nothing to start with, but he had reached door-to-door to provide treatment to the needy patients. “I have even provided free treatment to the people at their doorstep, who couldn’t afford the treatment and with their blessings I’ve reached this position that I can made a positive change in the healthcare sector,” he said.
He said that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann led Punjab Government has already been making concerted efforts to ramp up the healthcare sector in state, as part of which, as many as 400 Aam Aadmi Clinics have been opened on the pattern of Delhi’s Mohalla Clinics.
Pertinently, the State has an accessible healthcare ecosystem of 2000+ Multi-Specialty Hospitals (23 District, 41 Sub-Divisional Hospitals, 162 CHCs, 400+ Aam Aadmi Clinics, and 524 Govt. Ayurvedic & Unani Dispensaries). Apart from this, a total of 3034 Health and Wellness Centers (HWCs) have been operationalised in the state, of which, 1570 centers have active telemedicine services.He said that Punjab ranks amongst top 10 states in Health Index Report 2021 by NITI Aayog, both Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals have been identified as Thrust Sectors by the State Government.
Stressing on the need to transform the medical education in Punjab, the Cabinet Minister said that Punjab has an active pool of Skilled Medical Professionals bolstered by a robust ecosystem of 12 Medical Colleges (16 Upcoming), 13 Dental Colleges, 20 Alternative Medicine Colleges, 150+ institutes providing diploma/degree in Pharma and producing almost 7000 New Medical Graduates every year.
“We are in process to recruit more doctors and medical staff to further strengthen the healthcare facilities at Government hospitals,” he added.Extending invite to the investors, the Health Minister said that the state has huge investment opportunity in Healthcare & Pharmaceutical Sector, besides, medical tourism in Punjab, and it could become a Medical Value Tourism Hub.
The state has world-class medical institutions and paramedical training capabilities, he said, adding that these institutions can be further expanded to cater to the increasing demand in the healthcare sector.
Meanwhile, the Minister also felicitated the panelists which include MP Rajya Sabha Sanjeev Arora, Director Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital Dr Ashish Gulia, MD Tynor Orthotics Dr Pushvinder Jit Singh, COO Fortis Hospital Ashish Bhatia and Manoj Sharma Country President Centrient Pharmaceuticals.