Ludhiana, April 14
The Punjab Civil Medical Services (PCMS) Association has put forward a health service agenda for all contesting candidates in the parliamentary elections. The association has demanded that health and education should be on top priority for the political parties, seeking votes of the lower and the middle classes.

The association demanded reconsideration of the National Health Policy implemented since 2002, by adopting which the Indian Government was shedding its constitutional responsibility of providing health to all sections of society. The members also said that the policy of privatisation of the health sector, which would allow the private healthcare industry to generate profit from the ailing masses, should be reversed.

In a press note issued here today, Dr Hardeep Singh, state president, and Dr Balvinder Kumar, Registrar of the PCMS Association, said that health was a sense of physical, mental and social well-being, and there was no scientific definition of a sense of feeling good.

“It is surprising that the reach and the quality of public health services has been gradually declining below the desirable standards due to an ignorant attitude of the government towards this service sector. The public health investment in the country over the years has been comparatively low, and as a percentage of GDP, it has gradually declined from 1.3 per cent (in 1990) to 0.9 per cent (in 1999). Instead of increasing the budget, the government is continuously shedding its responsibility to secure equal health for all citizens”, said Dr Hardeep Singh.

Dr Balvinder Kumar said the government had adopted a fatal path to sell public health infrastructure in the hands of the private health sector.

Dr Hardeep Singh said the ever-increasing slum areas were health hazards. In the absence of an efficient disease surveillance network available in the country, the epidemics of preventable diseases of the past were again erupting especially in the metro cities. An inefficient network was a major handicap in providing an effective healthcare system to safeguard Indian society from such fatal epidemics.

Ludhiana, April 14
After surviving a scare, hosts Ludhiana managed to surpass Amritsar’s total of 180 runs and came out triumphant on the basis of their first innings lead in their inaugural match of the Punjab State Inter-District Cricket Tournament (under-15) for the Sushil Bali Trophy at the Satish Chander Dhawan Government College for Boys ground here today.

Resuming their reply today with their backs to the wall ( 100 for 5), Ludhiana received an early jolt when last evening’s not out batsman, Vishwajit Singh was dismissed on the second ball of the first over. Then came a fruitful partnership of 120 runs for the seventh wicket between skipper Gagandeep Dhand and Sushyant Kohli who not only steadied the innings but also helped steer Ludhiana to a well deserved victory. Gagandeep remained unbeaten on 55 while Sushyant Kohli made 74 with the help of nine boundaries.

After 76 overs, Ludhiana were 233 for 7 when the two sides decided to call it a day. With this victory, Ludhiana earned two points. Ludhiana, would now take on Jalandhar at Jalandhar on April 16 and 17.

Brief scores: Amritsar (Ist innings)- 180 all out in 50.3 overs