tribune news service

Vishav Balti

Chandigarh, 28th August

The government hopes to open 16 new medical colleges in the state over the next five years, but the reality is that the sector hasn’t been strangled in the past month.

The head of medical education and research, Husan Lal, retired last month, and not only has the state government been unable to fill the post, but it has not given any officer additional responsibilities for the department. At no time had he been without a secretary in the bureau for a week, according to bureau officials.

As a result of government inaction, most projects related to medical education are stalled. The Administrative Clerk acts as the administrative head of the ministry and acts as the chief adviser to the minister on all policy and administrative matters within the ministry/department. He serves as an important bridge between ministers and ministries.

All files related to medical education and research currently handled by the government are kept in this department. No meetings have been held recently to review the progress of ongoing projects.

The situation in the sector is such that earlier this month Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann laid the foundation stone for the Baba Atar Singh State Institute of Medical Sciences in Mastuana (Sanglulu), which was to be the first of 16 medical colleges. However, a dispute over land has put the project in legal trouble.

Even the Baba Farid University of Health Sciences Faridkot operates under a makeshift arrangement and the government has yet to organize a research and selection committee to choose a new vice-chancellor. Avneesh Kumar, Director of Medical Education and Research, currently serves as Vice-Chancellor.

Health Education and Research Minister Chetan Singh Jouramajra said the process of selecting a new secretary is underway and will be completed within two days.