Punjab govt to upgrade Amritsar Medical College

Amritsar, May 27 (UNI) With an investment of Rs 48 crore in the current financial year, the Punjab Government will improve the ailing health of the Government Medical College here, the premier health institute of the state, Secretary, Medical Education and Research Jagjit Puri revealed here today.

Mr Puri inspected the Government Medical College here yesterday and thereafter talking to the media persons said that besides trying to bring a marked improvement in the medical care delivery system, the Government will upgrade the existing infrastructure of the state's medical institutions and hospitals.

After consulting the Deputy Chairman of the State Planning Board an action plan will be formulated to transform the local Government Medical College into an ultra modern state of the art hospital.

A quarterly installment of Rs 12 crore would be provided to the Institution for this purpose.

Mr Puri said that within a day or two Rs one crore would be provided to the Punjab Health System Corporation for the Medical College and a special 20 bedded room unit would be added to the Guru Nanak Dev Hospital in the college premises. The process of filling the vacant posts of doctors would commence soon and walk-in interviews will be held for the purpose, he added.

Mr Puri said that the Government would lay special emphasis in promoting medical tourism in the Holy City, which is visisted by lakhs of tourists every year. Medical tourism holds immense scope in the State, he added.

He informed that the state Government would also impress upon the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to adopt Punjab Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) at Jalandhar and develop it on the pattern of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).

To promote ayurvedic form of medicine the government is contemplating setting up a Ayurvedic University.

Along with strengthening health infrastructure, the government has advised the doctors to perform their duty sincerely and observe punctuality.

Replying to a question Mr Puri said that to put an end to the tug-of-war between the doctors for postings and seniority, it has been decided that Director, Medical Health would visit the health institutions every month and keep abreast of the problems faced by doctors, teachers and others. Quarterly visits by Secretary, Medical Health will also be carried out, he added.

UNI