Cong seeks cancer hospital in Ferozepur area

The Centre will examine the proposal to set up a multi- specialty medical institute in Ferozepur for treatment of cancer. This was stated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh after meeting a delegation of Congressmen led by general secretary Parminder Singh and MLA Avatar Singh Brar on Tuesday. In a statement issued,Parminder Singh said that due to the rising water and soil pollution caused by increased use of chemicals and fertilisers,the number of cancer cases have increased in the area. The area,however,lacks medical facilities and the patients have to go the neighbouring states for treatment.

The delegation suggested that a medical institute on the pattern of the Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Sciences be opened in this area where special diagnostic and treatment facilities can be provided for cancer patients. “The state government has proposed to set up the hospital as a joint venture but going by the past experience,such super specialty hospitals have no place for the poor. The Centre proposes to set up eight medical institutions on the pattern of the PGI and one of these institutions would be located in Ferozepur district,” Singh said. He said the Badal government had not taken up this proposal with the Centre although the PM had always been keen to help the state.

The areas most affected by cancer include Bathinda,Muktsar,and Faridkot districts. He said setting up a cancer hospital at Mohali,as proposed by the SAD government,would not be of much use due to the locational disadvantage. The delegation also stressed the need to raise six companies of para-military forces to provide employment to the unemployed youth in the border areas of Punjab.