Punjab News Express/ SK.Vyas
JALANDHAR: With an aim to ensure the attendance of Doctors and other paramedical staff in the state run hospitals , the Health and Family welfare Minister Mr. Bram Mohindra today announced to install Biometric attendance system in all 22 District civil hospitals till mid may.
Addressing the media persons here after visiting the Local District civil hospital, Health Minister said that “the absence of doctors in Civil hospitals, especially in rural area Primary health centers from duty time were noticed many times and now to check this negligence, the Punjab Government has decided to install biometric attendance system in all PHCs and Civil Hospitals in phased manner. He also announced that to ensure the safety of biometric system , CCTVs would also be installed at a cost of Rs. 20 lakh till May 18.
Replying to the question about the shortage of doctors in hospitals, the Minister said that the Punjab Government was fully committed to provide quality health services to all citizens and taking a step forward in this regard the Government has decided to exempt the doctors from the Basic pay rule. He also announced that Punjab Public Service commission would start the recruitment process of 306 doctors and 41 specialists on the walk in interview basis only. Besides that to ensure the appropriate use doctors serving under Zila Parishads, the Government has decided to merge the services of these doctors in health department .
“More than 400 doctors have already submitted their consent in this regard”, he added.
Expressing satisfaction over the steps taken by the Punjab Government to enhance the health services, the Minister said that adequate supply of medicines in hospitals would be ensured very soon as supply , distribution and stock of the medicines would be available online on the website of the health department. He said that the state government has decided to set up five stockyards for medicine zone wise. Mr Mohindra said that this would streamlines the supply of medicines in government hospitals thereby immensely benefitting the people.
The Minister also said that to provide the much needed health services in case of accidents and emergencies, all civil hospitals on state and national highways to be converted into Trauma centers. Likewise, he said that a major drive has also been embarked to make the people aware of taking preventive steps to check hypertension.
Thanking the Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh for strongly raising the demand of 5 medical colleges in the state, the Minister said that Mohali Medical collage would be functional till 2020 with 100 seats. He also announced to establish burn unit at Civil hospital Jalandhar having capacity of 20 beds in next 3 months. Mr Mohindra said that out of these 20 beds four would be reserved for the critical patients.
Disclosing the new plan to enhance the immunity amongst TB patients, the Minister announced that the state government would soon initiate a scheme to provide Rs 500 as diet money for them. He said that under this scheme the department would provide nutrition enriched diet prepared by the MARKFED to the TB patients.
Prominent amongst present on the occasion included MP Chaudhary Santokh Singh, MLA Rajinder Beri and Sushil Kumar Rinku, Congress District President Daljit Singh Ahluwalia, Civil Surgeon Dr. Jaspreet Kaur Sekhon, Medical Superintendent Dr. KS Bawa and others.