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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
22-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Punjab turns to private sector for radiology diagnostic services
Chandigarh: In a move to bridge critical gaps in diagnostic infrastructure, the resource-constrained Punjab govt has decided to collaborate with private players under a public-private partnership (PPP) model for the operation and maintenance of radiology imaging centres in 18 district hospitals. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now With several govt hospitals in Punjab lacking essential radiology services such as MRI and CT scans—vital for the diagnosis and monitoring of numerous medical conditions—the new initiative aims to ensure timely access to diagnostic tools for patients in the public healthcare system. The Punjab Health Systems Corporation (PHSC) has floated tenders seeking private participation in the development, installation, and round-the-clock operation of diagnostic centres across three proposed clusters — Gurdaspur, Ferozepur, and Sangrur. The selected private partner will be responsible for equipment procurement, infrastructure upgrades, staffing, and service delivery. Under the Gurdaspur cluster, MRI scanners will be installed at district hospitals in Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala, Nawanshahr, and Ropar, while CT scanners will be placed in sub-divisional hospitals in Ajnala, Batala, and Dasuya. The Ferozepur cluster will see MRI scanners in district hospitals at Tarn Taran, Fazilka, Ferozepur, Moga, Faridkot, and Muktsar, and CT scanners at sub-divisional hospitals in Patti, Malout, and Abohar. In the Sangrur cluster, MRI centres will be set up in district hospitals in Mansa, Barnala, Sangrur, Fatehgarh Sahib, Malerkotla, and Muktsar, and CT facilities in sub-divisional hospitals at Rampura and Nabha. Each MRI centre will operate 24/7 with at least one radiologist physically present from 8 am to 6 pm, and available on-call during other hours. Every scanner will also be staffed with one radiographer/technician and one attending nurse at all times. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now As per the guidelines, scanned images must be made available within 45 minutes, with digital copies provided securely to patients on request. Diagnostic reports are expected within six hours for scans conducted before 2 pm, and by 10 am the following day for scans after 2 pm. Poor-quality scans must be re-issued at no extra cost. The guidelines mandate the private entity to meet strict performance benchmarks, including minimum staffing, equipment uptime, and report turnaround time—differentiated for emergency and non-emergency cases. The Punjab and Haryana high court is hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Bhisham Kinger, a resident of Malerkotla, and the Punjab govt has informed the court of the project's details. In its affidavit, the govt submitted that the objective is to ensure diagnostic availability in public healthcare settings, even through PPP mode, while continuing to offer free services to eligible categories. It further stated that the rates at these centres are nominal and comparable to those at premier govt institutions such as PGIMER and GMCH, reaffirming the state's commitment to delivering affordable and accessible healthcare to all citizens. Dr Akhil Sarin, president, Punjab Civil Medical Services Association (PCMSA), stated that any initiative aimed at reducing out-of-pocket healthcare expenses for the poor and underprivileged should be welcomed. "While the ideal scenario would involve the govt establishing its own diagnostic facilities, until such infrastructure is in place, offering affordable diagnostic services through a hybrid public-private partnership model appears to be a practical and necessary solution at this stage," he said. MSID:: 121339276 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 |
