PUNJAB TO LAUNCH SPECIAL DRIVE AGAINST QUACKS- JAYANI

* CIVIL SURGEONS DIRECTED TO INTENSIFY CAMPAIGN

* SPECIAL DRIVE LAUNCHED TO CHECK THE QUALIFICATIONS AND CREDENTIALS OF EVERY PRACTICING DOCTOR

Chandigarh, May 18: Punjab Health Minister Mr. Surjit Kumar Jayani today issued stern directions to all Civil Surgeons to launch a state-wide drive to check quacks and reiterated the government’s commitment not to allow anybody to play with the health of people.

Presiding over the conference of Civil Surgeons, Mr. Jayani said that it was matter of great concern that quacks especially in the remote rural areas were misleading the people and playing with their health and asked them to implement the law dealing with magic remedies and lodge criminal complaints against such quacks. He said that he has also got complaints that these quacks were also in the business of selective abortions flouting the PNDT Act and said that civil surgeons should lay traps to catch such quacks red-handed.

Resolving to ensure health for all under National Rural and National Urban Health Missions, Mr. Jayani said that Punjab Government was committed to provide universal health cover to all citizen and it was bounden duty of all civil surgeons to check fleecing of innocent citizens by these quacks.

Reacting to the shortage of specialist doctors, he said that immediately on completion of PG course in the month of June, they will be deployed in all hospitals. He said that more than 400 specialist doctors would be deputed by the end of next month.

Expressing concern over hygiene and cleanliness of hospitals and medical health centres, the Health Minister directed all civil surgeons to conduct surprise check in medical centres and hospitals under their domain and record the lapses in hygiene, regularity of doctors, availability of medicines, behaviour of staff with patients, punctuality of staff etc in the special report, that would be sent to him within 24 hours of inspection. He said that civil surgeons lacking in supervision and control in conducting thorough inspections would have to face the music.

Expressing concern over referral cases, the Minister asked Principal Secretary Health to issue directions to check undue referral especially in serious cases.

Principal Secretary Health Mrs. Vini Mahajan focused on audit of medicine purchase and proper deployment of funds meant for purchase of medicines. She said that all medical institutes should work out a standard operating procedure to deal with high risk pregnancies to reduce maternal and infant mortality rates. She okayed the proposal of pool of vehicles for night duties doctors. Secretary Health spoke in detail about Mission Inderdhanush.

Prominent amongst those present in the conference included Director Health Dr. Jatinder Kaur, Director Family Welfare Dr. Bhag Mall, Director ESI Dr. Usha Bansal besides Director Ayurvedic, Homeopathic, State Programme Officer, Civil Surgeons from all districts of the state.