Amritsar: The Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today called for the introduction of comprehensive "Free Health Security" for the common man, especially the poor, in the country, on the lines of Food Security. Speaking at the launch of the "National Free Drug and Iron Plus Initiative"
asks GOI to check cross border supply of drugs in state
Urges union health minister to take steps for ascertaining causes of cancer in the state
Exhorts political parties to unite for confronting prevalent crisis in country
Terms ‘True Federal Structure’ as panacea of all ills of country
After Amristar, Patiala medical college to get super specialty hospital in state- Azaad
Regional cancer research centre to be set up in Punjab
scheme atGovernmentMedicalCollege here this morning, the Chief Minister called upon the centre to bring a legislation to this effect in the Parliament and promised his party's full support to the measure. He said that it was unfortunate that even after more than 65 years of independence the poor sections were still being deprived off the quality medical Health facilities. Mr. Badal said that need of the hour was to ensure that quality Health services were ensured within the reach of the common man for which this noble initiative was required from the GoI.
Expressing concern over the increasing trend of drug addiction in the state, the Chief Minister also asked the Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Mr. Ghulam Nabi Azaad to raise the issue of unabated drug supply from the borders intoPunjab, with the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh. He said that agencies manning the borders of the county should be asked to maintain strict vigil so as to check the supply of drugs into the country. Mr. Badal also asked the Union Minister to impose a blanket ban on poppy husk, which was selling freely in states like Rajasthan, so as to preserve the health of the people.
Lauding Mr. Azaad for his special affection with the state ofPunjab, the Chief Minister said that the former had always acceded to the demands made by the state government for providing quality health services to the people. Laying thrust on the need to combat the menace of Cancer, Drug addiction and Female foeticide efficaciously, the Chief Minister said that the GoI must embark a major program to conduct a thorough research for ascertaining the causes of the cancer in the country.
The Chief Minister said that the state government has been constantly making endeavors to tackle this deadly disease. He said that the state government has recently conducted a comprehensive door to door survey for detecting the cancer amongst the people so that it could be checked at the early stage. Likewise Mr. Badal said that the medical colleges ofPatiala,Amritsarand Faridkot were being upgraded with the latest equipments to impart quality treatment to cancer patients free of cost adding that an advanced Cancer treatment centre was being set up at Bathinda byBabaFaridUniversity.
The Union Minister also lauded the role of state in curbing the Infant Mortality Rate and Maternal Mortality Rate adding that efforts must be made to check the female foeticide. Mr. Azaad also exhorted the people the play proactive role in checking the tendency of drug addiction in the state. The Chief Minister and Union Minister accompanied by Union Health Minister for state Mrs Santosh Chaudhary also inaugurated the outlet for free medicine service atSri GuruNanakDevHospital, Medical College Amritsar.
Prominent amongst those present on the occasion included Cabinet Ministers Mr. Chunni Lal Bhagat, Mr. Madan Mohan Mittal and Mr. Anil Joshi, Chief Parliamentary Secretaries Mrs. Navjot Kaur Sidhu and Mrs. Mohinder Kaur Josh, Principal Secretary Health Mrs Vinnie Mahajan, Secretary Health Mr. Hussan Lal and Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. Gurkirat Kirpal Singh.