Punjab health and family welfare minister Surjit Kumar Jyani on Tuesday announced that any person admitted to the emergency ward of a government hospital will get free treatment for the first 24 hours.
The minister said the decision was taken in a bid to provide better healthcare facilities to the public. Jyani made this announcement while speaking to mediapersons after inaugurated a community health centre (CHC) at Hathur village in the district.
The newly constructed 30-bedded CHC will cater mainly to the residents of 27 nearby villages of Ludhiana, Barnala and Moga districts. State legislator from Jagraon SR Kler informed the gathering that the CHC had been constructed at a cost of more than Rs 6 crore, which had been provided by chief minister Parkash Singh Badal.
Kler urged the health and family minister to increase the capacity of the Jagraon civil hospital from 50-bedded to 100-bedded, as due to the shortage of beds, the patients had to suffer.
The MLA informed the gathering that the tehsil complex and rehabilitation centre at Jagraon were ready and would be inaugurated by the chief minister soon. He said for the benefit of Jagraon residents, a blood bank had been set up besides the stationing of the fire brigade.
In his address to the area residents, Jyani said that the problem of shortage of staff in government hospitals would be resolved soon as the department would be recruiting new doctors. He said several new schemes had been started for the benefit of people, while several other schemes are in the pipeline.
The MLA informed the gathering that the tehsil complex and rehabilitation centre at Jagraon were ready and would be inaugurated by the chief minister soon. He said for the benefit of Jagraon residents, a blood bank had been set up besides the stationing of the fire brigade.
In his address to the area residents, Jyani said that the problem of shortage of staff in government hospitals would be resolved soon as the department would be recruiting new doctors. He said several new schemes had been started for the benefit of people, while several other schemes are in the pipeline.
Claiming that the issue of drug abuse had been blown out of proportion by the Opposition, the minister said: "It is true that some Punjabi youth have fallen prey to drugs, but it is wrong to call them drug addicts. I travel to different parts of the state and have seen how hardworking and fit the youngsters are."
Prominent among those present on the occasion were sub-divisional magistrate Rakesh Kumar Popli, civil surgeon Dr Renu Chhatwal and senior medical officer Dr JP Singh.