STATE GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE HELP AND CO-OPERATION FOR SETTING UP OF SAARC HOSPITAL IN AMRITSAR- BADAL

• CM HOPES THAT SAARC HOSPITALS WOULD PROVIDE CHEAP AND QUALITY HEALTH SERVICES TO PEOPLE BESIDES STRENGTHENING TIES BETWEEN THE COUNTRIES
• REQUISITE FINANCIAL HELP TO BE IMPARTED FOR PATIENTS REGISTERED IN MEGA CAMPS FOR FURTHER TREATMENT- BADAL

• SUKHBIR SINGH BADAL LAUDS CM FOR DELIVERING QUALITY HEALTH SERVICES TO PEOPLE AT THEIR DOOR STEPS

• DEPUTY CHIEF MINISTER FOR ORGANIZING MORE SUCH CAMPS IN BORDER, KANDI AND OTHER BACKWARD DISTRICTS OF THE STATE

 Badal (Sri Muktsar Sahib), September 24-

            Punjab Chief Minister Mr Parkash Singh Badal today said that the state government would extend all sort of help and co-operation to the SAARC Surgical Care Society for setting up SAARC hospital in Amritsar thereby facilitating the people from SAARC countries to avail world class health facilities besides heralding a new era of mutual trust and goodwill in the region.

            Talking to the media persons on the sidelines of the second day of the Mega Health Camp organized here by the state government, the Chief Minister, who had mooted the idea of this hospital a few days back at conference of society in Jalandhar, reiterated that setting up of SAARC hospitals was the need of the hour as it would go a long way in delivering best health care facilities to the people besides promoting the people to people contact in the region. Mr Badal said that they have carefully selected Amritsar city for setting up this prestigious hospital because the holy city was having Air connectivity which would facilitate the renowned doctors of the society for rendering their services in this hospital on one hand and would facilitate the patients from various SAARC countries on the other. He said that the state government would soon identify the land in Amritsar district where this hospital would come up so that the work on it was started soon.

The Chief Minister expressed hope that the renowned surgeons and doctors of the SAARC countries would offer their services to these hospitals, where cheap and quality treatment would be provided to the common man adding that with the opening of this hospital state would become a hub of internationally acclaimed doctors, who would carry out research and other activities related to their pious profession for the benefit of mankind. Mr Badal further said that the opening of such hospitals in all the SAARC countries would go a long way in benefitting the people of these under developed/developing nations by providing them access to quality health care services.

The Chief Minister also said that realizing well the importance of delivering quality health care facilities to the people the national governments of all the countries along with the statutory international organizations must make concerted efforts for opening ‘World Hospitals’ in all the countries which would pave way for providing excellent health care facilities to the people apart from spreading the message of mutual goodwill and trust. Likewise Mr Badal said hat it would also enable the doctors to improve their diagnostic skills by frequent exchange of ideas in such global institution. He urged the Government of India (GoI) to take initiative for setting up such hospitals in the world.

The Chief Minister also said that observing the overwhelming response of the people to the Mega Health camp the state government would replicate it to other districts adding that the preference would be given to the border, kandi and other backward districts. Mr Badal also said that proper record of the patients registered in this Mega Health camp, which was probably the biggest one of its kind in the country, would be maintained and the patients who have been referred for further diagnose and treatment would be provided the requisite financial help. He also said that the sate government was making stupendous efforts to rope in nationally and internationally acclaimed doctors to participate in such camps thereby ensuring quality health services for the people.

Listing out the achievements of state government in the field of health sector, the Chief Minister said that realising well the importance of quality healthcare facilities for the people, the SAD-BJP government has taken path breaking initiatives in the health sector. Mr Badal further said that for providing world class health facilities to the people a massive program of upgradation of infrastructure and equipment in the government hospitals has been embarked by the state government at a cost of Rs 350 crore. He said that owing to the concerted efforts of the state government, Punjab today leads the nation in Health sector adding that the state’s performance on Health Infrastructure has been adjudged “excellent” by an agency of GoI.

            Replying to the queries of media persons Deputy Chief Minister Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal lauded the Chief Minister for envisaging this pro-poor initiative which has virtually brought the world class health facilities at the door step of the common man. Highlighting the importance of such camps Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal said that these camps could play a pivotal role in the timely detection of fatal diseases like cancer amongst the people thereby paving way for their early treatment. Emphasising the need of organising more such camps in all the districts of the state especially that of the border, kandi and other backward districts, the Deputy Chief Minister said that it would pave way for building a healthy, strong and prosperous Punjab.

            Later on the Chief Minister also handed appreciation certificates to the doctors who have participated in this two day Mega camp.

            Prominent amongst those present on the occasion included Cabinet Ministers Mr Sharanjeet Singh Dhillon and Mr Madan Mohan Mittal, Chief Parliamentary Secretaries Mrs Navjot Kaur Sidhu, Mrs Mohinder Kaur Josh and Mr Sarup Chand Singla, MLA Mr Harpreet Singh, Political Secretary to the Chief Minister Major Bhupinder Singh Dhillon, Advisor to Chief Minister Mr Maheshinder Singh Grewal, Principal Secretary Health Mrs Vinnie Mahajan, Principal Secretary Medical Education Mrs Anjali Bhanwra, Special Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Mr KJS Cheema and Deputy Commissioner Mr. Paramjit Singh .