Health budget: ‘Record allocation shows govt’s intent

Punjab govt plans to establish new hospitals, trauma centres.

LAHORE:

“It’s for the first time in the history of the province that such a high percentage of funds have been allocated for the health sector in the annual budget,” parliamentary health secretary Dr Saeed Elahi said on Saturday.

Dr Elahi said that the budget for health had been increased to Rs48.8 billion which was 14 per cent more than the previous year.

He said more mobile health units will be purchased at a cost of Rs700 million to provide latest health facilities to people in remote areas.

He said Rs5.2 billion has been allocated for special pay packages for doctors and nurses; Rs23.44 billion for hospital services; Rs1.92 billion for administrative expenses; Rs120 million for public health services; and Rs647 million for chemical examiner and drug testing laboratories.

Dr Elahi said a 410-bed hospital would be constructed in Bahawalpur at a cost of Rs500 million.

Two trauma centres, one near Lahore and the second at Bhera Interchange on motorway, would be established with Rs132 million.

He said besides completing the Cardiology Institute in Rawalpindi, the Health Department would establish an Institute of Urology and Fatima Jinnah Dental Institute in Lahore.

He said that Multan Institute of Cardiology will be expanded and the number of beds at Children Hospital in Multan increased by 200. Burn units would also be established in Lahore, Multan and Faisalabad with Rs205 million allocations.



Published in The Express Tribune, June 12th, 2011.