The Punjab government is in the process of finalizing a plan to give incentives to the Medical Officers opting for border area postings after appointment.This was stated here today by Health Minister Surjit Kumar Jayani while presiding over the meeting of the Civil Surgeons. Addressing the civil surgeons, Mr. Jayani said that it was for the first time that the government was offering incentives to the Medical Officers who have opted for placements in the Border areas during the initial years of their appointment.He said that to overcome the issues of staff shortage, the civil surgeons have been asked to recruit staff nurses, lab technicians, radiographers, security and sanitation staff, electricians and plumbers on daily wages on rates approved by the deputy commissioners.He has directed the Civil Surgeons to ensure that the patients should not suffer because of the inadequacies in the hospitals. He has categorically asked them to ensure proper health care facilities in all the district hospitals especially where there was a heavy rush in OPDs.
Expressing concern over the inadequate security arrangements in the Emergency wards where women staff is posted in odd hours, Mr. Jayani has asked Civil Surgeons to appoint trained security guards on daily wages so that the emergent situations could be handled even in the medico-legal cases or late night brawls.Speaking on the occasion MD NHM/Secretary Health, Mr Hussan Lal has directed the Senior Medical Officers to interact with patients especially those who were undergoing treatment in the hospital wards and resolve their problems on the spot. He has also asked them to ensure adequate stock of medicines and other material required and also ensure proper implementation of the programmes, schemes and plans formulated at the GOI level regarding health.Prominent amongst others who were present in the meeting included Special Secretary Health, Mr. Vikas Garg, Director Health Dr. Jatinder Kaur, Director Family Welfare Dr. Bhag Mal and all the senior officers of the department.