The North News
Chandigarh, November 28
The Punjab Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, has approved the empanelment of 300 specialist doctors across 12 key medical disciplines as part of efforts to strengthen public healthcare services in the state. The decision was taken at a meeting of the Council of Ministers on Friday. According to a spokesperson for the Chief Minister’s Office, the specialists will be empanelled in fields including general medicine, paediatrics, psychiatry, dermatology, chest and tuberculosis, surgery, gynaecology, orthopaedics, ophthalmology, ENT and anaesthesiology.
Officials said the move will significantly improve access to specialist care at government health facilities and enhance the quality of secondary healthcare. Empanelment will take place at the district level through civil surgeons, and the doctors will be paid per patient for services such as OPD and IPD consultations, emergency duties and surgical procedures.
The Cabinet also approved the insertion of a new Rule 28A into the Punjab Cooperative Societies Rules, 1963, creating a uniform disciplinary and appellate framework. The government said the change would eliminate duplication in appeal processes, clarify chains of command, and ensure decisions are consistent across cooperative institutions. The rule is also aimed at safeguarding employee rights by ensuring due process.
In another decision, the Cabinet cleared updated provisions under the Punjab Minor Minerals Rules 2013, aligned with the state’s amended minor minerals policy for 2025. The revised rules will govern the allocation of mining rights for crusher sites and landowner-operated mining locations across Punjab.
