HEALTH

Cut cost of treatment, Kalia tells pvt hospitals
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, October 13
Minister for industry and local bodies, Punjab, Manoranjan Kalia has called upon managements of private hospitals to provide medical facilities and treatment at affordable cost to the poor, as modern healthcare has virtually gone out of the reach of the masses.

The minister was addressing a function of doctors after inaugurating a new department of gastroenterology in AIMC Bassi Hospital here last night.

Kalia said with the addition of high cost of diagnostic tests and other procedures in multi-specialty private hospitals, the role of technology had become more important than medical professionals since they had to fully depend on diagnostic tests for accurate diagnosis and treatment.

As a consequence, the cost of medical treatment had gone up manifold.

The state government was formulating plans to revamp the medical infrastructure to provide better medical facilities in the district and block-level hospitals.

However, the task would not be achieved without the cooperation of the private sector because government hospitals alone could not cater to the needs of public.

Appreciating the contribution of the managements of private hospitals in the state for enhancing the quality of medical facilities and acquisition of latest equipment and machinery both for diagnosis and treatment, Kalia said efforts should also be made to create awareness among people for prevention of diseases by changing lifestyle, dietary habits and adopting physical activities.

He said people had great faith in the medical fraternity and doctors were treated next to God.

“Medical fraternity should also aim to live up to the expectations of the people and serve the suffering humanity with full dedication,” the minister advised.

BJP state president Rajinder Bhandari reminded the doctors of their social obligation towards the poor, while lauding the initiative being taken by managements of private medical institutions in this direction.

Hospital director Dr Naresh Bassi claimed that with the addition of a new department, equipped with latest diagnostic machinery, patients of the region would be able to avail themselves of the treatment facilities presently available in metropolitan cities.

Prominent among those present were Vidhan Sabha deputy speaker Sat Pal Gosain, chief parliamentary secretary Harish Rai Dhanda, BJP state unit general secretary Anil Sareen, BJP district president Subash Verma, former Baba Farid University of Health Sciences vice-chancellor Dr Livtar Singh Chawla, civil surgeon Dr S.P. Sharma and MC’s joint commissioner B.K. Gupta.

Kapur hospital dispute settled; work resumes
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, October 13
The ongoing dispute between staff and management of Dr B.L. Kapur Memorial Hospital here was amicably settled last evening and the institution resumed normal working, including the OPD’s from today.

On the initiative taken by Sharanjit Singh Dhillon, MP, and activists of the Bhartiya Valmiki Dharam Samaj, a meeting was convened between the representatives of agitating staff and the management last evening in which the management sought to make its stand clear.

The medical superintendent of the hospital Dr Wahegurupal Singh Sidhu told in the meeting that the administrator V.D. Sharma, who had allegedly manhandled the president of workers association Manjit Toor, had been booked by the police and had also been placed under suspension. The management said it would not take any sides and all other pending issues would also be resolved in consultation with the representatives of the hospital employees.

Dr Sidhu told Ludhiana Tribune that OPD’s in all departments of the hospital had resumed normal work today.

The meeting was attended by B.D. Arora, advisor of the management committee, Subhash Aggarwal, member of governing body, Lakshman Dravid and Ashwani Sahota, activists of the Bhartiya Valmiki Dharam Samaj.

SPORTS

Kila Raipur zone emerge champs in kabaddi tourney
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, October 13
Kila Raipur zone has emerged as champions in the girl’s u-19 kabaddi discipline in the Ludhiana District Inter-Zonal Sports organised at Punjab Agricultural University here today. The Jagraon zone secured second position while the Sahnewal Zone had to content with the third spot.

In the girl’s u-17 years section, the Kila Raipur zone outnumbered the Khana zone to win the title while the Raikot zone secured the third position. However, in the u-14 years section, the Kila Raipur zone lost to the Raikot zone to finish runners-up and the Jagraon zone stood third.

In kho-kho, the Jagraon zone romped home victorious in the u-17 and 19 years sections while the Ludhiana zone finished at second spot in both sections and the Sahnewal zone secured the third position.

In the u-14 years section, the Jagraon zone and the Ludhiana zone secured first and second position, respectively,while the Ludhiana zone finished third.

The PAU zone got the better of the Rara Sahib zone to emerge champion in volleyball (u-19). Nankana Sahib Public School finished at third place. In the u-14 years section, the Rara Sahib zone, Kalsian zone and DAV School, Ludhiana, secured first, second and third position, respectively.

Rupinder Singh Ravi, deputy district education officer, Ludhiana, gave away certificates to the position holders.

Punjab schools hockey league from Oct 15
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, October 13
The eighth edition of the Punjab Schools Hockey League for boys (u-19) will be held at Mata Sahib Kaur Stadium of Jarkhar village from October 15 to 18, near here.

Lakhbir Singh Grewal and Satinder Singh Gill, chairman and president of the Jarkhar Hockey Academy, respectively, said eight top teams of Punjab, including Rail Coach Factory sports wing, Kapurthala, Sarihn Academy of Jalandhar, Daley Ke Brothers XI of Moga, Sangrur academy, Thapar academy of Sansarpur, Jarkhar academy and Takhanwad Sports wing will be taking part in this four-day meet to be played on league-cum-knock-out basis.