Punjab appoints 80 Covid warriors as nursing staff at Government Hospitals
Patiala: Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh has handed over appointment letters to 80 COVID-19 frontline workers for nursing positions. He has also announced that the critical care block at Government Medical College and Rajindra Hospital, Patiala, is expected to begin operations in November.
The newly appointed staff had served at government medical colleges in Amritsar, Faridkot and Patiala during the COVID-19 pandemic. Of the 80 nursing staff recruits, 60 will be posted at Rajindra Hospital’s critical care block, while the remaining 20 will join Dr BR Ambedkar State Institute of Medical Sciences in Mohali.
The newly recruited staff will undergo specialised training before taking up their duties.
Dr Balbir Singh said the Punjab government was also establishing critical care blocks in the state’s remaining 22 districts to strengthen access to advanced treatment. The services of COVID warriors and volunteers would be utilised at these facilities.
The minister said the contribution of healthcare workers who served during the pandemic would not be forgotten. He added that recruiting the frontline workers as nursing staff fulfilled a commitment made by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to recognise their service.
Highlighting recruitment figures, the minister said the Punjab govt has provided around 70,000 jobs to youth, including nearly 10,000 appointments within the health department alone, TOI reported.
Addressing the concerns of other COVID volunteers, Dr Balbir Singh said the government remained open to discussions and would explore employment opportunities for them. He added that improving healthcare infrastructure, expanding health coverage and generating employment remained key priorities for the state.
The appointment ceremony was attended by Director of Medical Education and Research Dr Avnish Kumar, Government Medical College Patiala Director-Principal Dr RPS Sibia, Dr BR Ambedkar State Institute of Medical Sciences Director-Principal Dr Navdeep Saini, Medical Superintendent Dr Vishal Chopra and other faculty members.
