PUNJAB GOVT TO BEAR TREATMENT COST OF PERSONS INJURED DURING FARMERS’ PROTEST

Patiala: Standing firmly with the farmers protesting for their legitimate demands, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government will bear all the cost of treatment expenses to be incurred on injured persons during the ongoing farmers’ protest, said Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh here on Wednesday.

The Health Minister was on a whirlwind tour of different Government health facilities near Haryana border to know the wellbeing of farmers, journalists and police personnel injured during the police action by the Haryana Government to deter farmers from entering the state. He visited Dr B R Ambedkar State Institute for Medical Sciences (AIMS) in Mohali, CHC Banur, Civil Hospital Rajpura and Rajindra Hospital Patiala.

Dr Balbir Singh said that keeping in view the safety of protesting farmers all the hospitals adjoining to the Haryana border have been put on high alert and emergency services are being provided 24×7. He said that there is no shortage of doctors in the government health facilities and doctors have been asked to stay put at the hospitals, while deployment of ambulances have also been intensified along the border. He also asked the local health authorities to keep 14 ambulances on standby with requisite staff and medicines in case of emergent need.

He said that being the nearest to Shambu Border, at least 40 injured persons were admitted at the Civil Hospital Rajpura of which two have sustained serious head injuries and are undergoing treatment. CM Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government will ensure free medical aid to the persons injured during the farmers’ protest, he reiterated.

While condemning the Haryana Government for the unprovoked police action at protesting farmers, Dr Balbir Singh said that the Haryana Government has no right to stop farmers, who were peacefully heading to Delhi to hold protest. “National highway is property of nation and farmers were just to pass from Haryana’s jurisdiction to reach Delhi,” he said, while terming the role of Haryana government as unconstitutional and illegal. He also urged the BJP led Haryana Government to let the farmers to reach the national capital to raise their demands peacefully.

Meanwhile, during his visit at AIMS Mohali, the Health Minister took stock of the medical services being provided in the emergency care and directed the officials to further strengthen the emergency services so that no one has to be referred to PGI or Government Medical College-32 for further care.