In a bid to impart quality Healthcare services to the people, the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today urged the Union Health Minister JP Nadda to sanction a Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences to the state.The Chief Minister, who called on Nadda at his office this afternoon, apprised him that every state has been given a Post Graduate Institute of medical sciences but the state of Punjab has been left out despite having allotted 200 acres of prime land on National Highway number one in Kapurthala district for it. He said that in order to provide quality treatment and diagnostic facilities to the people one PGI should be given to the state.Seeking the whole hearted support of Government of India (GoI) for eradicating the menace of cancer from the state, the Chief Minister impressed upon Nadda to sanction central assistance worth Rs 250 crore for the construction of state of the art Cancer treatment infrastructure at Bathinda, Amritsar, Patiala, Sangrur, Faridkot at a cost of Rs 500 crore. Thanking the Union government for approving State Cancer Institute, at Amritsar worth Rs. 120 crore, Mr. Badal asked the Union Minister to ensure its immediate implementation.Dwelling on another issue, the Chief Minister apprised Mr. Nadda that the State Government has taken unprecedented initiatives in setting up Drug De-addiction and Rehabilitation Centers across the state. He asked the Minister to immediately release initial grant of Rs. 50 Crore for Drug De-addiction activities announced by Finance Minister in the last Budget.
Flagging up the issue of increase in the number of MBBS seats in the State Medical Colleges, the Chief Minister urged Mr. Nadda to enhance number of seats in Amritsar Medical College from 150 to 200, from 100 to 150 in Faridkot Medical College and from 150 to 200 in Patiala Medical College. Likewise, Mr. Badal also sought enhancement of Post Graduate Seats in the state.The Chief Minister also urged Mr. Nadda to expedite the release of balance funds for the construction of five ANM/ GNM schools sanctioned in 2011-12. Likewise, he said that the present allocation of Rs 5 crore for construction of building and hostel for ANM/ GNM schools was too inadequate and thus it should be revised to Rs 7. 5 crore per school. Similarly Mr. Badal also impressed upon the Minister to sanction five new schools for the state.
Raising another issue, the Chief Minister urged Mr. Nadda to relax the condition of 4% Milk fat in the state to bring it at par with prevalent 3.5% in other states. He informed the Union Minister that cross Bred cow milk's fat was not more than 3.5 % adding that the matter was pending with the Food Safety Standard Authority of India (FFSAI) under the Ministry and urged him to get this matter resolved at the earliest as it was adversely impacting the interests of Dairy farmers.
The Chief Minister also sought personal intervention of Mr. Nadda for giving regular pay scale to the NHM contractual Employees.
Responding to the issues raised by the Chief Minister, Mr. Nadda assured him that he would get the issue of setting up PGI on the allotted site by the state government resolved and all the necessary clearances would be given by the Ministry without any further delay. Referring to the issue of bringing the Milk standard prescribed for Punjab at par with other states, Mr. Nadda assured the Chief Minister that FFSAI was already on the track and would soon complete legal formalities to declare PFA standard of Milk 3.5% in the state thereby removing this disparity. Mr. Nadda also assured the Chief Minister that all the pending issues related to his Ministry would be put on the fast track mode and he would personally monitor their progress on regular basis.The Chief Minister was accompanied by his Principal Secretary Mr. SK Sandhu, Principal Secretary Health and Family Welfare Mrs. Vinnie Mahajan and Special Principal Secretary Mr. KJS Cheema.