Punjab to spend Rs 342 cr on healthcare facilities

In order to provide modern healthcare facilities to the rural masses, the Punjab government would spend Rs 342 crore on the construction of new hospitals and up-gradation of existing hospitals, community and primary health centres throughout the state.

This was disclosed by Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal while interacting with media persons in Chandigarh. Badal stated that a new 100-bed district hospital would be constructed at Nawansahar and two such hospitals would be up-graded from 50 and 60-beds at Mukatsar and Tarn Taran respectively.

Likewise four new sub-divisional hospitals would be constructed at Khadoor Sahib, Bholath, Moonak and Tappa and two such hospitals would be up-graded at Dera Bassi and Budhladha. As many as 29 new community health centres (CHCs) had been sanctioned to be built under the scheme at Dehlon, Bareta, Lambi, Mahil Kalan, Sadiq, Makhu, Beenewal, Ghudha etc.

The chief minister pointed out that out of Rs 342 crore, Rs. 75 crore would be meted out from the state budget, Rs 44 crore from state’s developing authority, Rs 83 crore from rural development fund , Rs 80 crore from the Punjab Infrastructure Development Board and Rs 60 crore from National Rural Health Mission.

He informed that all the hospitals, PHCs and CHCs would be completed within one year. He said that Hospital Services Consultancy Corporation had been engaged for design consultancy. Earlier, he mentioned that there were seventeen 100-bed hospitals against the norm of 20, fifty-six 50-bed sub-divisional hospitals against 77, ninety-three 30-bedded CHCs against 130. The state had far more PHCs above the norms fixed by the Centre.

Referring to the recruitment of doctors, Badal said 376 doctors, including 214 medical specialists, 128 medical officers general and 34 medical officers dental would be recruited through a committee of PGI doctors. He said with the recruitment of these 376 doctors against the gap of 566, the remaining 190 would be recruited thereafter.