CM Mann-led Punjab Cabinet Gives Nod to Empanel 300 Specialist Doctors Across 12 Key Categories

Punjab: To provide quality healthcare services to the people across Punjab, the Cabinet, led by the Chief Minister, has approved the empanelment of 300 specialist doctors across 12 key categories. This decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by the Chief Minister here today.

What Spokesperson from the Chief Minister's Office said?

Sharing the information, a spokesperson from the Chief Minister's Office said that the Cabinet approved the empanelment of 300 specialist doctors across 12 key categories: Medicine, Pediatrics, Psychiatry, Dermatology, Chest and TB, Surgery, Gynecology, Orthopedics, Ophthalmology, and ENT.

The Cabinet has also decided to empanel 300 specialist doctors in ENT (ENT) and anesthesiology. This move will increase the availability of specialist doctors and improve the quality of secondary healthcare services for the people of Punjab.

What is the process empanelment of these specialist doctors?

The process of empanelment of these specialist doctors will be conducted through civil surgeons at the district level, and empaneled doctors will be entitled to charge an empanelment fee per patient for OPD, IPD, emergency, major and minor surgeries, and various other services.

What were the prominent decisions of the cabinet?

The Cabinet has also approved Rule 28A, the Uniform Disciplinary and Appellate Framework, under the Punjab Co-operative Societies Rules, 1963. This will prevent duplication of appeal channels, avoid conflicting decisions within the same board or its committees, and establish a clear chain of command in disciplinary actions. It will also ensure that appeals are heard only once within the institution. This will strengthen institutional accountability and protect employee rights by ensuring due process under a clear, uniform framework and defining authority at all levels. This will bring uniformity across all apex institutions and Central Cooperative Banks operating within the cooperative sector in Punjab.

The Cabinet also approved amendments to the Punjab Minor Mineral Rules, 2013, in accordance with the Punjab State Minor Minerals (Amendment) Policy, 2025, to make mining services more efficient, citizen-friendly, and transparent. These new rules/amendments were required to be added/amended to the existing Punjab Minor Mineral Rules, 2013, for the allocation of mining rights to mining lease holders for crusher mining sites and landowner mining sites to be allotted in the state.