Punjab for joint action plan to tackle floods

Talking to the media on the sidelines of flagging off a fleet of new ambulances at Punjab Health Systems Corporation (PHSC) headquarters in Phase VI,the CM urged the Prime Minister and chief ministers of Haryana and Rajasthan to join hands to find out a permanent solution to the flood fury,which causes major loss to life and property across the region.

“Besides Hansi Bhutana canal’s wrong design,several other inter-state problems are responsible for causing floods,which could only be sorted out if the concerned states act jointly and Centre provides requisite financial grant,” felt Badal,while announcing that he would soon meet PM and neighbouring CMs to discuss the proposal. He also demanded a special flood relief package from the Centre to compensate the heavy loss of life and property.

Later,addressing the PHSC function,the CM directed the Health department to immediately launch mobile hospital service to provide basic healthcare and medical facilities at their doorsteps to the people in the border and kandi areas,majority of whom were deprived of medical services.

He said these mobile hospitals would be equipped with adequate medical and paramedical staff,diagnostic equipment and medicines.

Emphasising the need for health audit of the people,especially those living in rural areas,to save them from the ill-effects of deadly diseases like cancer,AIDS and heart ailments,Badal asked the Health department to prepare a comprehensive scheme to issue health cards to the persons living in the rural areas after regularly monitoring their blood pressure,body weight and blood group. “This data would help the doctors to easily diagnose the disease and cure them instantly,” he said.

The CM disclosed that a comprehensive project of Rs 346 crore has been prepared to upgrade of health infrastructure of the state. The Union government undertaking Hospitals Services Consultancy Corporation has been engaged for the preparation of the concept design and detailed estimate of the health institutions,which are proposed to be developed under this project. Under this project,new blocks would be added to the existing hospitals besides constructing new districts and sub-divisional hospitals and community health centers.

He said as many as 746 doctors,medical specialists and dentists have been recruited to meet the shortage of medical staff,especially in the rural segment.

Speaking on the occasion,Health and Family Welfare Minister Laxmi Kanta Chawla said of the total 50 new ambulances procured by PHSC,39 were flagged off today while remaining 11 would be pressed into service within a fortnight. These referral ambulances would shift emergency patients from their doorsteps to hospitals. She said the health department would soon introduce the emergency response service.Earlier,CM,flanked by Chawla,flagged off 39 ambulances to be positioned in various hospitals across the state.