Health initiatives by Punjab Government

Aiming to deliver healthcare services to patients at their doorsteps, the Punjab government will become the first state in the country to launch 2,950 health wellness centres across the state in a phased manner to cater the healthcare services to the patients at their doorsteps especially in rural areas. Likewise 50 new ambulances will be rolled out including 5 Advance Life Saving Ambulances equipped with critical life saving equipments.

Highlights:

• Trained staff nurses will be designated as Community Health Officer in wellness centers and the special training programme of 6 six months is underway, which is being imparted by IGNOU.
• Punjab is the only state in India that has rolled out e-Raktkosh in all 45 government blood banks. Under this scheme benefits to the general public include easy access of the blood availability status in respect of blood group, blood bank wise & district wise of blood & blood products, blood donation camp information, registration of voluntary blood donors to create donor repository, location of nearest blood banks.
• Health Department in order to check the spread of TB has decided to provide free dietary support to the patients undergoing treatment for TB – nutrient mixture will be provided from next month in collaboration with Markfed. National level aim is to eradicate TB by 2025, but State intended to achieve this target by 2022.
• Punjab Government is all set to initiate the first of its kind unique programme, under which State Organ Tissue Transplantation organization will be established to provide ‘Organ & Tissue Donation’ under tertiary health care services. For this noble cause space has already been earmarked in Medical Education Bhawan at Mohali.

By: Dr. Vivek Rana