DW BUREAU / Chandigarh

In a significant decision aimed at enhancing the healthcare and education sectors in Punjab, Finance Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema announced on Tuesday that the Finance Department (FD) has officially approved the proposal from the Medical Education and Research Department to increase the retirement age for doctors and dental faculty governed by the Punjab Dental Education (Group-A) Service Rules, 2016, from 62 to 65 years.

Revealing this in a press communiqu? issued here, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema elaborated that this crucial approval would extend the retirement age of the Dental Teaching Faculty to 65 years, mirroring the policy already in place for the Medical Teaching Faculty at the Government Medical Colleges and Hospitals in Amritsar and Patiala. He emphasized that this decision was made to leverage the expertise and experience of this highly skilled faculty for a longer duration, thereby enhancing the overall performance and quality within the Medical Education and Research Department.

Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that this decision would extend the service period of 113 professionals, including 112 dental teaching faculty members and a Joint Director, thereby leveraging the expertise and experience of these medical faculty to further enhance the performance of the Medical Education and Research Department. "By retaining the services of this seasoned faculty, the Punjab government aims to harness their knowledge and skills to continually improve the dental healthcare system in the state, ultimately benefiting the students and patients who rely on these institutions," he added.

Highlighting the state government's commitment, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema affirmed that the Aam Aadmi Party-led Punjab government remains steadfast in its dedication to delivering superior education and health services to the residents of Punjab. He said that this measure also underscored the government's proactive approach to strengthening the healthcare infrastructure and ensuring a continued high standard of medical and dental education.

(editor@dailyworld.in)