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Time of India
6 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Punjab expands free medicine list to curb out of pocket expenditure
Chandigarh: In a significant move to make healthcare more affordable, the Punjab govt has expanded the list of essential medicines to be provided free of cost at all govt hospitals and health facilities across the state, increasing the total number to close to 500. The initiative aims to reduce the financial burden on patients, particularly those from economically weaker sections, by ensuring greater access to life-saving and commonly used medicines without out-of-pocket expenses. Punjab has one of the highest rates of out-of-pocket expenditure on healthcare in the country, exceeding the national average. According to the Comprehensive Annual Modular Survey conducted by the ministry of statistics and programme implementation for the period July 2022 to June 2023, the average medical expense per hospitalisation in the state was Rs 8,306 for rural households and Rs 8,272 for urban households. These expenses are often met through personal savings or borrowing, putting additional pressure on household finances. To address this concern, the Punjab health department has increased the number of essential drugs at each level of the public health system. District hospitals will now have 487 essential drugs, up from the previous count of 276. Sub-divisional hospitals will stock 362 drugs, up from 276, while community health centres (CHCs) will have 317 essential drugs, compared to the earlier 230. At the primary health centre (PHC) level, the number has been raised from 151 to 202, and health and wellness centres will now stock 103 essential medicines. The health department has issued updated drug lists to all civil surgeons across districts and instructed hospital in-charges to ensure the uninterrupted availability of these medicines in adequate quantities. Hospital heads have also been tasked with monitoring their inventory regularly and contacting district warehouses in case of any shortages or discrepancies. If the Punjab Health Systems Corporation (PHSC) is unable to supply certain medicines in time, civil surgeons and senior medical officers have been authorised to procure them locally. For local purchase, civil surgeons are authorised to spend up to Rs 10 lakh, while senior medical officers have the authority to purchase medicines worth Rs 2.50 lakh. Principal secretary of health, Kumar Rahul, stated that the decision aims to reduce the out-of-pocket burden on patients and ensure that medicines are available across all govt hospitals without interruption. He reiterated that hospital authorities must guarantee that all medicines on the list are provided to patients completely free of charge. Supporting the initiative, Dr Akhil Sarin, president, Punjab Civil Medical Services Association (PCMSA), called the move a step in the right direction. He noted that with nearly 500 essential drugs now being offered for free, the initiative directly lowers the cost of healthcare by addressing the significant expense of medicines, thereby making treatment more accessible and affordable for the public. "The Punjab govt's decision is being seen as a major policy intervention to strengthen public health infrastructure and move towards more equitable healthcare delivery," said Dr Sarin. BOX CHOICE EXPANDS FACILITY | OLD LIST | NEW LIST | District Hospital | 276 | 487 | Sub-divisional hospital| 276 | 362 | Community health centre| 230 | 317 | Primary health centre | 151 | 202 | BOX Doctors told to write in bold or capitals Following directions issued by the Punjab and Haryana high court on May 26, the directorate of health and family welfare has instructed all medical colleges and civil surgeons across Punjab to ensure that all prescription slips and diagnoses are written in capital or bold letters by doctors. The directive aims to improve legibility and prevent errors in patient care. Officials have been asked to ensure strict compliance with the order and see that all doctors under their respective jurisdiction implement these instructions in letter and spirit. MSID:: 121519598 413 |
Time of India
21-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Punjab government revises postgraduate quota policy to attract and retain young docs
Chandigarh: In a significant move aimed at addressing the growing shortage of doctors and retaining young talent in the public healthcare system, the Punjab govt has extended the postgraduate (PG) quota benefits to Emergency Medical Officers (EMOs) and Jail Medical Officers (MOs). This benefit, which was previously unavailable to doctors in these roles, is expected to attract more young professionals to govt service and alleviate the pressure on specialists, who are often required to take on non-specialist duties such as managing general emergencies, conducting post-mortems, and performing medico-legal examinations. The govt has also revised the categorisation of health institutions for the purposes of extending the PG quota benefits. This revision, which comes after more than five years, is designed to streamline the allocation of benefits and ensure a fair distribution of incentives. Under the new categorisation, all doctors serving in jails across the state, as well as those who serve or served as EMOs in district hospitals and sub-divisional hospitals, will now be included in the "difficult" category. This category comprises healthcare institutions located outside a 20-kilometre radius of municipal corporations or committees in major cities like Amritsar, Bathinda, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Patiala, and Mohali, as well as those outside a 10-kilometre radius in the remaining 17 districts. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Iconic 90s Women: The Crushes of a Generation Boite A Scoop Undo The categorisation is designed to recognise the challenges faced by medical professionals working in less accessible areas. Additionally, health institutions within a 20-kilometre radius of municipal corporation limits in the six metropolitan cities will now be categorised as "normal". Meanwhile, institutions located in border areas near the international border and in Kandi areas, as well as those in aspirational districts and blocks identified by NITI Aayog, will be classified under the "more difficult" category. Importantly, the benefits accrued for services rendered by PCMS doctors in these difficult or more difficult areas before 1 April 2025 will remain unaffected. These benefits will continue to be granted as per the prevailing policy in force during the period of service. The Punjab Civil Medical Services Association (PCMSA) has warmly welcomed the govt's decision to revise the PG policy. Dr Akhil Sarin, president of PCMSA, expressed strong support for the move, stating that this initiative will be a "game-changer" in the govt's efforts to attract young MBBS graduates to the public health cadre. The reservation of seats in medical colleges/institutions for respective categories will be in accordance with the applicable laws prevailing in the states. An all-India merit list, as well as a state-wise merit list of eligible candidates, will be prepared based on the marks obtained in the NEET exam. Candidates will be admitted to postgraduate courses solely from these merit lists. For candidates who are already in govt service, the govt will provide a weightage in the marks as an incentive. This weightage will be up to 10% of the marks obtained for each year of service in remote, difficult, or rural areas, with a maximum weightage of 30% of the marks obtained in NEET. The remote, difficult, or rural areas will be defined and notified by the state govt. MSID: 121318808 413 |
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Punjab to appoint facility managers in hospitals to ease burden on medical staff
Chandigarh: In a significant move to streamline hospital operations and reduce the administrative burden on overstretched medical staff, the Punjab govt has announced the deployment of facility managers in all district hospitals. The initiative aims to enhance the quality of non-clinical services and ensure more efficient utilisation of hospital infrastructure. Currently, the responsibility of managing hospital operations falls largely on doctors, whose numbers are already limited. This not only places undue pressure on medical personnel but also compromises the efficiency of essential non-clinical services. The govt hopes this administrative reform will allow doctors to focus more on clinical responsibilities while improving service delivery and accountability in the state's public health facilities. The newly appointed facility managers will be tasked with overseeing hospital logistics, maintenance of equipment, and the overall upkeep of the premises — including sanitation, availability of clean drinking water, functional toilets, and hygienic surroundings. They will also be responsible for ensuring that services such as diet, security, and laundry — often outsourced — are delivered to expected standards. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Ótimas notícias para os cidadãos brasileiros! Leia mais Undo Key responsibilities include ensuring implementation of the National Quality Assurance Programme (NQAP), conducting daily rounds of hospital departments and monitoring the functioning of equipment and ambulances, facilitating meetings of Rogi Kalyan Samitis, including preparation of agendas and documentation, monitoring compliance with regulatory norms such as biomedical waste (BMW) management, blood bank licensing, and AERB regulations, supporting digital initiatives like e-Sushrut and e-Aushadhi, and enhancing hospital MIS through data collection and KPI analysis. Facility managers will also be expected to conduct patient satisfaction surveys, time-motion studies, and exit interviews to maintain service quality. In addition, they will help coordinate grievance redressal mechanisms and assist patients in accessing benefits under schemes such as the Ayushman Bharat Mukhya Mantri Sehat Bima Yojana. Each manager will operate under the supervision of the medical superintendent or senior medical officer of the district hospital. These positions will be outsourced through an agency identified by the Punjab Health Systems Corporation (PHSC), with a fixed remuneration of Rs 30,000 per month and other statutory charges. "This initiative is worth trying, as it has the potential to enhance the functioning of district hospitals, provided the facility manager operates entirely under the authority and supervision of the senior medical officers (SMOs)," said Dr Akhil Sarin, president of the Punjab Civil Medical Services Association (PCMSA). "It is crucial that the SMOs retain full control over appointments and dismissals. However, for this move to be truly effective, it must be accompanied by the recruitment of adequate staff to address existing shortages and ensure the smooth and holistic functioning of district hospitals," Dr Sarin added. MSID:: 121295331 413 |
