‘Govt willing but doctors averse to Malwa tenure’

‘Govt willing but doctors averse to Malwa tenure’
Rajay Deep
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, September 11
“It is unfortunate for the people of Malwa that despite our best efforts, doctors are not keen to join any of the hospitals in this region," said Punjab health minister Laxmi Kanta Chawla, here today.
The Health Minister was here to formally lay the foundation stone for the Rs 4.73 crore new OPD block at the Civil Hospital. She was accompanied by the principal secretary of the department, Satish Chandra and the managing director of the Punjab State Health Corporation, Raji P Shrivastva.
Expressing regret, she disclosed that the state health department recruited 204 specialised doctors for the region but only 46 have joined the service as they did not turn up for fear of being posted in the Malwa belt.
"It is not enough. There were three doctors who belonged to this region. But saying it was a backward area, they refused to join here. There was only one lady doctor, who agreed to join the Civil Hospital in Mansa for one year but with the completion of that period, she too got a transfer," the minister added.
Addressing the gathering, she urged people to motivate doctors known to them to come to Malwa, as it has developed a lot.
Speaking further, Chawla said that during the past one year, government hospitals recorded about 70,000 births while the number was only 35,000 in the past.
Terming it as an achievement of the health department, she disclosed that the state health department was soon going to declare that all deliveries, irrespective of the family status of the patient, would be free of cost in all government hospitals.
About the school health fund, she said that students of all government and government aided schools would get free treatment for general ailments. In case of some serious disease, they would be treated at selected private hospital at concessional rate.
When asked about the recently instance of her reportedly snubbed by the chief minister over the issue of deputation of doctors, she refuted it saying, "There was no such topic at the meeting."
She spoke at length to motivate people to take a stand against drug menace, female foeticide and sale of spurious products.
Urging people to motivate the health department staff, Chawla said, "As of now, during the SAD-BJP government regime, till date, we have seized objectionable drugs worth Rs seven crore, whereas the previous government could seize only drugs worth Rs 58 lakh. Despite this, you people are not supporting us"
Before leaving, she informed that a four-day Ayurvedic Camp, would be held in Bathinda from Februray 12-15 next year.