Chandigarh, Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today envisioned the state to be developed as a world class hub of latest healthcare facilities and medical education & research in the upcoming Medicity at New Chandigarh.
While addressing a gathering after inaugurating the Asia’s first digital Max Orthopedic Suite in Max Hospital, Mohali here at JW Marriot Hotel, Mr. Badal said that the Medicity would certainly boost the medical tourism in the region. He also solicited cooperation and support from Max Health Care group to invest in the upcoming Medicity besides envisaged investment in setting up a skill development Centre in the health care. He felicitated the management of the Max hospital to establish the digital suite for undertaking joint replacement and trauma care with highest level of accuracy.
Highlighting the major initiatives taken by the state government, the Chief Minister mentioned that Punjab had already been rated as excellent in the field of health infrastructure by the Government of India, adding he said that the upcoming Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital and Research Center on the lines of Tata Memorial Center, Mumbai would also prove to be a milestone in updating the skills of oncologists, radiographers and paramedics involved in the treatment of patients inflicted with cancer. Likewise, the advanced cancer treatment centers at Amritsar, Patiala, Faridkot and Bathinda with an outlay of Rs.25 crore would also be made functional soon. Realizing the hardships faced by the patients and their kin due to expensive treatment of cancer, our government was making humble efforts to help them through the ‘Mukh Mantri Punjab Cancer Raahat Kosh’ scheme, under which the state government was giving cashless aid of Rs.1.50 lakh each to the cancer patient. He said that the state government was also providing 118 anti-cancer drugs to the cancer patients on affordable prices besides 340 essential drugs to the patients free of cost in all government hospitals. The state government was providing cashless health facility worth Rs.30,000 to blue card holder families under Bhagat Puran Singh Health Insurance Scheme. He further said that as many as 61 skill development courses have been started by the Baba Farid University of Health Sciences to update the exiting skills of paramedics besides imparting skill development training to the unemployed youth.
Mr. Badal further said that as a conscious decision, our government had already created a dedicated Punjab State Cancer and Drug Addiction Treatment Fund to the tune of Rs.300 crore to eliminate drug addiction and cancer from the state. He also pointed out that the state had already declared a war against the menace of drug addiction by setting up drug de-addiction centers and rehabilitation centers across the state.
Earlier, in his welcome address, the Director and Head, Max Elite Institute of Orthopedics and Joint Replacement Mr. Manuj Wadhwa expressed gratitude to the Chief Minister for extending fulsome support and cooperation to the group in establishing world class health infrastructure in the state. He said that the newly inaugurated digital orthopedic suite had been equipped with the fully computerized digital operating theatre procured from Germany. Dr. Wadhwa further said that with this technology the chances of misalignment or misplacement would be negligible.
The Chief Minister was accompanied by his Special Principal Secretary Mr. KJS Cheema. Prominent amongst others who attended the function included Principal Secretary Health Mrs. Vinni Mahajan besides Chairman Max India Mr. Analjit Singh, MD Max India Dr.Rahul Khosla, Head Orthopedic Max hospital Dr. Manuj Wadhwa and senior doctors and others.