PCMC launches probe against staff linked to illegal bungalow construction in Chikhali
Punjab health minister Dr Balbir Singh plans to involve private psychiatrists in government deaddiction centres, offering ₹ 1,500 per hour for two-hour daily consultations. The initiative aims to reduce patient load, improve care quality, and expand Buprenorphine treatment access.
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Time of India
19 hours ago
- Time of India
Bone marrow transplant facility to come up in Punjab
Chandigarh: The Punjab government Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding with Ludhiana's Christian Medical College (CMC) for establishing state's first Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) facility in the public sector. The aim is to launch a life-saving initiative for children suffering from thalassemia and find a permanent solution. The MoU was signed in the presence of Health Minister, Dr. Balbir Singh, who applauded the collaborative spirit of this initiative and reaffirmed the government's commitment to making advanced healthcare accessible and affordable for all. Under this programme, eligible patients -- particularly children under 12 years -- will be provided free HLA (Human Leukocyte Antigen) typing and subsidized allogeneic stem cell (bone marrow) transplantation, which is currently the only curative treatment for thalassemia. Once successfully treated, these children no longer require lifelong blood transfusions. At present, no government medical college in Punjab has an operational BMT facility, forcing patients, especially those with thalassemia, blood cancers, and other hematologic disorders, to seek costly treatment outside the state, said an official statement. This partnership with CMC Ludhiana, a leading institution with proven expertise in BMT, aims to bridge that gap and bring curative treatment within reach of economically weaker patients. The BMT centre will provide critical treatment closer to home, especially benefiting patients from rural and underserved districts. The local availability of follow-up care within the state system will ensure improved monitoring and outcomes. Besides, the centre will also function as a training and skill development hub, strengthening the transplant ecosystem in Punjab and local access is expected to increase uptake and reduce dropouts., he said. The health minister stated, "This is a historic step towards equitable healthcare in Punjab. Through this partnership, we are not just building a facility, we are giving new hope to hundreds of families battling life-threatening diseases." The facility is expected to become operational in the near future, with robust coordination between the Department of Health, CMC Ludhiana, and other stakeholders to ensure transparent, need-based patient care.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Time of India
Violence against doctors: Punjab finally moves to secure govt hospitals
1 2 Chandigarh: After prolonged inaction and mounting pressure from the medical fraternity, Punjab govt has finally begun implementing long-promised security measures to protect healthcare workers. The decision comes in the wake of a disturbing surge in violence against doctors and medical staff at govt hospitals — a crisis that eroded morale and endangered lives on the frontlines of public healthcare. Despite repeated assurances over the past year, frontline medical professionals continued to face physical assaults and verbal abuse, particularly during night shifts, in govt-run hospitals. The combination of insufficient security, staffing shortages, and rising patient aggression left doctors and paramedics operating in a climate of fear. According to data compiled by the Punjab Civil Medical Services Association (PCMSA), over 50 cases of violence against doctors were reported from govt hospitals across Punjab in the past year. Amritsar emerged as the worst-hit district with six such incidents, followed by Hoshiarpur and Pathankot (five each), Moga (four), and Gurdaspur, Nawanshahr, Muktsar, Ludhiana, and Patiala (three each). Several other districts, including Mohali, Tarn Taran, Jalandhar, Bathinda and Barnala, also reported multiple cases. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Pessoas com dores no joelho devem fazer isto à noite Saude News Saiba Mais Undo PCMSA, which persistently advocated for urgent intervention, pushed the govt to act. Following its sustained campaign, including a strike last year, the govt committed to deploying round-the-clock security personnel at all hospitals handling medicolegal cases by Sept 9, 2024. However, the deadline lapsed without implementation. Under renewed pressure, the health department has now directed all civil surgeons to furnish detailed reports by Jun 9 on incidents of violence from the past two years, as well as corresponding police actions taken. The move is part of groundwork to operationalise the Punjab Protection of Medicare Service Persons and Medicare Service Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage to Property) Act, 2008, which provides a legal framework to safeguard healthcare workers against assaults and vandalism. A govt proposal to deploy CCTV cameras and trained security personnel at public health facilities is currently under active consideration. PCMSA had earlier suggested a cost-effective model, recommending outsourced guards at DC wage rates (around Rs 13,500 per month), scaled according to hospital size — 20 guards for district hospitals, six for sub-divisional hospitals, and four for community health centres offering 24x7 medicolegal services. Despite several meetings with govt officials, including a cabinet sub-committee headed by finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema, implementation was repeatedly delayed. It was only during a follow-up meeting on April 14, 2025 — involving health minister Dr Balbir Singh, principal health secretary Kumar Rahul, and Cheema — that the finance department reportedly agreed to deploy guards through PESCO, an organisation comprising ex-servicemen. Dr Akhil Sarin, president of PCMSA, welcomed the step, but cautioned that urgency is paramount. "A disturbing pattern of violence emerged against doctors and medical staff at govt facilities. We can no longer afford delays. The state must ensure immediate implementation of security arrangements," he said. He said the spotlight is now on the govt to translate its promises into concrete protection measures — before another incident adds to the growing list of victims. Recent Incidents of Violence A series of disturbing incidents of violence were reported at civil hospitals in Gurdaspur, Derabassi, and Hoshiarpur during April, raising serious concerns about the safety of healthcare staff and patients. On April 12, an altercation erupted at Gurdaspur civil hospital when two groups brought their fight into the emergency ward. The clash led to significant property damage and forced both doctors and patients to flee for safety. Just a day before, Derabassi civil hospital witnessed a similar incident. A clash between two groups led to chaos, with reports of vandalism and hospital staff locking themselves inside rooms to avoid harm. Eleven individuals were said to have been injured in the incident. MSID:: 121693014 413 |
Time of India
4 days ago
- Time of India
Arora has clear blueprint of Ludh's devp: Dr Balbir Singh
Ludhiana: Punjab health minister Dr Balbir Singh held an election meeting in Kitchlu Nagar in support of AAP bypoll candidate, Sanjeev Arora on Saturday. Addressing the gathering, Dr Balbir Singh described Arora as a visionary and development-oriented leader with a clear blueprint for Ludhiana's progress. He asserted that Arora's victory would not only benefit Ludhiana (West) but also contribute to the development of the city and state. Dr Singh said that there was "strong public sentiment" in favour of Arora and credited him for visible development over the last three years. In contrast, he criticised an opponent who, despite having held a ministerial post in the past, failed to deliver results. Soliciting votes in favour of development, Dr Singh elaborated on the state government's initiatives in healthcare, such as the establishment of Aam Aadmi clinics and upgrade of existing health facilities. The minister lauded Arora for renovation of the Ludhiana civil hospital and said that it had now been upgraded to the level of private healthcare institutions. He said that Rs 12 crore had been spent on the upgrade and further improvements were underway. He also noted the popularity of mohalla clinics across Punjab, with over 3.5 crore patient visits recorded so far. MSID:: 121694272 413 |
