To ensure early detection of diseases and their timely cure, the Punjab Government would soon evolve a diagnostic and laboratory testing system at least once in a year for every person in the state.An announcement to this effect was made by Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today while presiding over an inaugural function of the 21st Annual National Conference - 2013 of the Association of Medical Biochemists of India (AMBICON) the country’s leading body of biochemists here.Lauding the importance of the Biochemistry in the Medical Science, Mr. Badal felicitated the Christian Medical College (CMC) Ludhiana for organising this conference first time in Punjab. Mr. Badal said that need of the hour today was to ensure best and correct clinical testing based on effective laboratory diagnostic system available at cheaper rates for the patients. He said that the medical biochemist doctors could play a major role in disease detection, which was followed by effective treatment under the expert supervision of doctors. In the cases like cancer and drug addiction biochemists had played a major role, added Mr. Badal.
Badal reiterated that SAD-BJP government was fully committed to provide best Health care and diagnostic facilities to the people in all the government hospitals, dispensaries and Health Sub Centers. About Rs. 350 crore had been spent by the state government during its last tenure for the upgradation of the government health care net work across the state for providing quality treatment to the patients at affordable rates. All the three Government Medical Colleges at Amristar, Patiala and Faridkot were being upgraded to ensure the best health treatment. Likewise, to ensure quality Health care services to the people at their doorsteps, Mega Medical camps had also been organized across the state, where on the spot treatment of all the ailments had been provided besides, distributing free medicines, added Mr. Badal.
Mr. Badal said that the state government had created a Dedicated Punjab State Cancer and Drug de-addiction Treatment Fund of Rs. 300 crore. All out efforts were being made to eliminate drug addiction from the state especially weaning the youth away from the scourge of Drug addiction, adding Mr. Badal said that five State-of-the-art 50-bedded Drug De-addiction Centers with an outlay of Rs 25 crore at Bathinda, Faridkot, Patiala, Jalandhar and Amritsar will be made functional soon. Besides, a state-wide crusade had also been launched recently to curb the menace of deadly disease of cancer by conducting door-to-door surveys across the state for an early detection of cancer and its timely treatment, added Mr. Badal.
The Chief Minisrer further said that realising the hardships faced by the patients and their kin due to the costly treatment of Cancer, SAD-BJP government was making a humble effort to help them through ‘Mukh Mantri Punjab Cancer Raahat Kosh’ Scheme under which the state Government was giving financial aid of Rs 1.50 lakh each to the cancer patient, besides providing them cheaper medicines at far less rates than available in the market. A World class Cancer Hospital on the lines of Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai was being set up at Mullanpur near Chandigarh for which the state government has already given 50 acres of its prime land, said Mr. Badal. He also added that a 100 bedded advanced Cancer Centre was coming up at Bathinda.He appealed the medical fraternity to discharge their duties with utmost dedication, commitment and sincerity in the larger interest of general public especially the poor and needy.
Speaking on the occasion Advisor to the chief minister Mr. Maheshinder Singh Grewal appraised the gathering that the Chief minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal had play a pivotal role in establishing the second health University of the Country in Punjab i.e. Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, Faridkot (BFUHS). On the occasion Organizing Chairperson and HOD Biochemistry CMC Dr. Bharti Uppal welcomed the Chief Minister and apprised that theconference was attended by around 500 delegates from across the country, besides the delegates from UK, USA, Australia also. Prominent amongst those addressed the gathering includes Vice Chairman Punjab Planning Board, Mr. Rajendra Gupta, Director CMC Dr A.G. Thomas and Principal Christian Medical College Dr.S.M Bhatti.