Thousands Treated, 424 Ambulances Deployed, and a New Wave of Doctors Joins the Front Lines
Punjab Newsline, Chandigarh-
Spearheading the medical relief drive in flood affected areas of the state, Punjab Health and Family Welfare department has been adopted a multi-pronged strategy focused on rapid mobilisation, on-ground treatment and disease prevention to safeguard the health and well-being of citizens with a formidable force of 818 teams—comprising 458 Rapid Response Teams and 360 Mobile Medical Teams—fully equipped with essential medicines, informed Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh here on Tuesday.
“Our goal is to ensure that no person is left without medical care, and we are delivering on that promise,” he said, while informing that daily medical camps are being held in affected areas and shelter homes to provide uninterrupted treatment. To date, 962 camps have been organised, where over 31,876 patients have been examined and treated for a range of illnesses, including diarrhoea, gastroenteritis, diabetes, hypertension, skin and eye allergies, and dog bites. The health teams are also prioritising pregnant women by conducting Ante Natal Check-ups on-site.
Dr. Balbir Singh said, “We have a robust system in place to deal with the crisis. The state has a sufficient stock of 66 essential drugs and 21 consumables specifically pre-selected for flood relief. Additionally, separate funds have been allocated to districts to ensure they can purchase any necessary medicine, guaranteeing seamless health services.”
Highlighting the proactive measures being taken to prevent disease outbreaks, the Health Minister said that ASHA workers, with a force of over 11,103 deployed in flood-affected districts, are going house-to-house to provide medicines and raise awareness about water- and vector-borne diseases. They are also prioritizing the tracking and care of pregnant women and ensuring that routine immunization schedules are not disrupted.
To bolster the medical infrastructure, the Health Department has deployed 170 ambulances. This fleet has been significantly augmented by the generous support of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), nursing colleges, and NGOs, which have provided an additional 254 fully-equipped ambulances. “With a total of 424 ambulances now operational, we are ensuring that a rapid medical response is available 24x7,” Dr. Balbir Singh affirmed. He also noted the deployment of two specialized boat ambulances in District Gurdaspur and a helicopter for the emergency airlift of critical patients, including pregnant women. So far, five pregnant women have been safely evacuated and provided with timely medical care.
In a crucial step to strengthen the front-line teams, the Health Minister said that 322 new Medical Officers have been appointed, with 138 of these have been specifically assigned to the seven worst-hit districts. These officers will lead mobile teams and ambulance services, organise medical camps, and monitor for potential disease outbreaks.
The Minister extended his gratitude to partner organizations, stating, "We are grateful for the support from IMA Punjab, Nursing Colleges, private hospitals, and the Punjab Chemist Association, who have all stepped forward to help. These partnerships are a testament to the community's resolve."
Dr. Balbir Singh reaffirmed the government's commitment. “Under the direction of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, the Punjab government is working tirelessly. Our teams are operating around the clock to provide uninterrupted healthcare and preventive services. We want to assure every citizen that we stand with you and will continue to provide every possible relief until this crisis is fully resolved.”