Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
Chandigarh July 1: Dr Bhag Mal today took over as the new Director Health & Family Welfare, Punjab. He got elevated to the post after the superannuation of his predecessor, Dr. Jatinder Kaur on June 30, 2015. Dr Bhag Mal is a child specialist and has joined Punjab Civil Medical Services in the year Hoshiapur in 1980 as Medical Officer and served on many key positions in Punjab including Registrar Government Medical College Patiala, Civil Surgeon Barnala, Director ESI and Director Family Welfare Punjab.
Assuming charge on the International Doctors’ Day, Dr. Bhag Mal has directed all Civil Surgeons to take effective steps to keep a close watch on the sex determination centres indulged in illegal practices of determining sex before birth. Dr. Bhag Mal said that the state government has already taken stringent measures to check the declining sex ratio and he said that it was much better as compared to our neighboring states. He asked the district health officers to ensure strict implementation of PNDT ACT on the state.
The Director also said that all the existing health care institutions and also the drug de-addiction centres would be revamped. Adequate infrastructure and latest equipment would be ensured in all the hospitals. Referring to the shortage of specialist doctors, Dr. Bhag Mal said that the government was already in the process of appointing specialists in the state besides providing incentive to the doctors opting for border area postings.
Referring to his priorities after assuming charge, Dr. Bhag Mal said that checking food adulteration was one of his top priorities. He has asked the drug controller to ensure that every eatery owner, small or big is registered with the Health department. He has also asked the health officers to collect the food samples randomly and send them to the authorized food testing laboratory for testing and proper action would be taken against the defaulters, said Dr. Bhag Mal.
