Prof Bajaj is also the chairman of the Academic Council of the National Academy of Medical Sciences (NAMS).

While interacting with the mediapersons, before inaugurating the new academic session of the PGI, Bajaj said the special committee was checking the facilities available in the various scientific laboratories of the state and in next three months all these laboratories would be provided with the state-of-the-art equipment.

Expressing his concern over the increasing number of cancer cases, especially in Malwa region, Bajaj said higher incidence was due to the industrial effluents and indiscriminate use of pesticides.

He said to estimate the level of arsenic, the committee wants to test the water samples from two laboratories. He said like Murshidabad in West Bengal, Punjab too is on high-risk geographic zone.

He said telemedicine project would be further expanded to other parts of Punjab. At present, education programmes are being transmitted to the adjoining district hospitals like Faridkot and Amritsar. “In next two months Patiala would be on the network,” he said.

“All 20 district hospitals of Punjab would be connected in a period of two years with the telemedicine facility which will be made available round the clock,” he added.