3 days after Jalandhar tragedy, Punjab health minister asks all civil surgeons to ensure oxygen supply
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Presiding over a high-level meeting with civil surgeons from all districts, Dr Balbir Singh emphasised the need for round-the-clock oxygen supply, functional UPS systems, and operational generator sets to prevent any disruption in life-saving medical services.
The minister also issued stringent directives regarding medicine supply, instructing civil surgeons to maintain at least one month's buffer stock of all 368 types of essential medicines and warned against any shortage of essential medicines.
"No patient should be prescribed any medicines from outside the hospital," he declared.
He said senior medical officers (SMOs) have been empowered to purchase any non-essential medicine as per their requirement, warning that strict disciplinary action would be taken against any non-complying medical officer. To bolster the medicine-dispensing system and overall patient experience, civil surgeons and SMOs were also directed to daily visit OPDs and collect patient feedback.
To enhance patient satisfaction, Dr Balbir Singh directed civil surgeons to ensure that outpatient department (OPD) services must be delivered within an hour of the registration.
In another move to enhance critical care capabilities, Dr Balbir Singh announced that every doctor and paramedic, including staff nurses, will undergo training in critical care and advanced life support. He also tasked each civil surgeon with submitting their district's health status in comparison to the Millennium Development Goals, enabling the department to set targets for better progress.
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