Punjab Government committed to restore the pristine glory of Amritsar Medical College

AMRITSAR, JANUARY 31, 2008

Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today announced that the prestigious Amritsar Medical College would be upgraded as one of the most modernized Medical Institutions in the Country since this premier medical institution had a glorious legacy spanning over 116 years.

Addressing a gathering after inaugurating Rs. 26 crore Guru Ramdas Centre for Emergency, Trauma and Multi-speciality block of Amritsar Medical College, Mr. Badal said that it was the matter of great honour and pride for all of us that this Medical College had produced eminent doctors and surgeons who had won accolades through their professional skills and acumen in the field of medicine and surgery not within the country but also across the globe. Mr. Badal pointed out that the entire medical college would be given face lift by adding new blocks to existing ones, installing new medical equipment and strengthening the manpower. He emphasized the need to reverse the trend of preferring Private Medical Institutions over Government Institutions, this could only be achieved by reposing confidence and faith amongst the public through better service, caring and sense of belongingness.

The Chief Minister further said that the State Government had embarked upon an ambitious programme to upgrade all the three Govt. Medical Colleges at Amritsar, Patiala and Faridkot in a phased manner. He said an amount of Rs. 200 had been earmarked for strengthening the infrastructure Govt. Medical College Amritsar and Guru Gobind Singh Govt. Medical College at Faridkot, in first phase and Medical College at Patiala would be taken up there after.

Responding to the demands put forth by the medical fraternity, Mr. Badal announced a grant of Rs. 10 lac for the computerization of Library. He also directed the Principal of the Govt. Medical College to extend the working hours of the library after 5 p.m. till mid night. Mr. Badal also asked the Directorate of Medical Education and Research to immediately move a comprehensive proposal for sending bright medical graduates for pursuing higher studies abroad in the field of specialization of their choice at government expanse. He said that this initiative of the government would go a long way in the direction to achieve higher standard of medical education and excellence at par with International Medical Institutions of repute. He also announced to set up a nursing college within the premises of local medical college as an integrated development and extension programme of the Amritsar Medical College.

The Chief Minister also mentioned that the holy city of Amritsar would be soon developed as one of the most developed cities in the world as it had a tremendous potential for religious tourism but at the same time it could be developed as the most preferred destination for medical tourism being an upcoming medical hub in South East Asia.

Speaking on the occasion Mr. Tikshan Sood, Medical Education and Research Minister Punjab revealed that an action plan for the strengthening of Amritsar Medical College has been prepared which will cater all the aspects of Medical Education and Research. Moreover, Eye-Banks would be registered in all the three medical colleges of Punjab and soon 75 eye collections centres would be set up statewide. "The Medical Directorate for Ayurveda and a University for Ayurveda is also on cards", he added. He claimed that in a short span of time all the institutes associated with medical education and research would be rejuvenated.

Mr. Navjot Singh Sidhu, Member Parliament said that it was a red letter day in the history of Amritsar and with the upgradation of local Medical College people of the region would be immensely benefited through the available diagnostic and therapeutic services.

In his address Deputy Chairman Planning Board Prof. (Doctor) J.S. Bajaj said that merely erecting buildings would not serve any meaningful purpose until these were dedicated to some eminent personalities who made outstanding contribution to redeem the mankind, to achieve this objective, we have planned to name the upcoming mother and child care unit as Bebe Nanki Centre, Block for Imaging and Diagnostic Services as Guru Teg Bahadur Block, Drug Dependence Treatment Centre as Swami Vivekananda Centre. He also urged the doctors not to compromise with the professional ethics and to work zealously with missionary zeal for the welfare of ailing humanity.

On the occasion, Mr Badal released the souvenir of Amritsar District Branch of Indian Red Cross Society and also the concept plan for the modernization of local medical college prepared by the Hospital Services Consultancy Corporation.

Later, addressing the media persons Mr. Badal said that the State Government was contemplating to raise a dedicated fund to the tune of Rs. 400-500 crore for the free treatment and care of the poor patients in the State. He said he was fully alive to the situation that most of the people in the rural areas were living in penury and costly treatment for the ailments like cancer, heart disease etc. were beyond their means.

Prominent among others present on the occasion were Mr. Sital Singh, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Medical Education and Research, Mr. Anil Joshi, MLA, Mr. Balwinder Singh Bhunder, Dr. Baldev Raj Chawla, Former Health Minister Punjab, Jathedar Bhai Manjit Singh, Mr. Jagjit Puri, Secretary Medical Education and Research, Dr. Jagdish Gargi, Principal Medical College and Dr. J.S. Dalal, Director Medical Education and Research.

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ANIMAL HUSBANDRY DEPARTMENT TO SET UP ULTRA
MODERN DISEASE DIAGNOSTIC LABS- GULZAR SINGH RANIKE

Chandigarh, 31 January:

With a view to making Punjab a disease free zone, the department has finalized some new projects for timely detection of disease and its proper control in the livestock including cows, buffaloes, sheep, goat, pig and poultry. Dr. B.S.Sidhu, Director, Animal Husbandry informed that the livestock sector has vast potential of growth and can play pivotal role in t economy of the state. As the agriculture sector has already reached a saturation point, the growth rate is not increasing much. The livestock sector especially in case of dairy animals like cows and buffaloes and the poultry sector, the existing growth rate is 8-10 % and it has a potential of doubling in the next five years provided it gets the required support from the government and the stakeholders. Dr. Sidhu explained that a large number of animal diseases like FMD, HS used to cause huge economic losses to the livestock owners every year. With the extensive vaccination programmes and timely detection of diseases have to be eradicated. This willed to enchance productivity and also boosts the export of livestock and livestock products to the developed countries.

The department proposed to set up one Residue Analysis Laboratory at Regional Disease Diagnostic Lab. Jalandhar at a total cost of Rs. 37.00 lac. This was disclosed by S. Gulzar Singh Ranike, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries, Dairy Development, Sports, Youth Services, SC & BC Welfare Minister. He said that dangerous levels of pesticides and antibiotics have been detected in the milk, meat and other products obtained from the animals consuming green fodder and drinking water having high concentration of these residues. This affects the animals health as well as the human health badly. A large number of cases of malicious poisoning and fodder poisoning are ported invariably. The State level Residues Analysis Lab. will help in timely and accurate detection of pesticide residues in the fodder, feed, milk, meat etc.

Mr. Ranike further said that there is also a proposal to set up 20 disease diagnostic labs at block level every year for the next five years. Each lab will cost about Rs. 6.00 lac. These labs will have facilities for testing of blood, urine, milk, fecal material and morbid samples. The farmers will not have to travel long distance to the sub divisional labs or polyclinics at the district level for routine testing of samples. He said that this network of labs is being set up from the funds sanctioned for the department by the GOI scheme, namely, Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana during the current year.