Health budget 32% up amid virus in Balochistan

Balochistan govt to set up 30-bed hospital in Quetta

ISLAMABAD: The Balochistan government has increased its health budget for the next financial year 2020-21 by 32 per cent to Rs31.405 billion as against the current fiscal’s Rs23.981 billion with an aim to improve the vital sector.

Provincial Finance Minister Zahoor Buledi presented the budget 2020-21 in the Balochistan Assembly on Saturday.

During his speech, Buledi said an amount of Rs7.050 billion has been earmarked for the development of health sector. The Health Professional Allowance has been ensured for the medical personnel, paramedical staff and nurses who are playing a leading role in combating the Covid-19 pandemic.

Thalassemia centres would be established in district headquarter hospitals of the province, while work on construction of new building of Civil Hospital in Gwadar has also started.

The government has started the construction work on a new block for the treatment of cancer at Shaikh Zayed Hospital, Quetta while an Incentive Care Unit (ICU) would be also set up at the Cardiology Department of Bolan Medical Complex Hospital.

Steps would be taken to set up bachelor hostels in eight district hospitals of the province.

The Balochistan government would establish new 30-bed hospital in Nawan Kali area of Quetta city.

The new medical colleges would be established in the province while Jhalawan, Makran and Lorlai have been expanded and the salaries and benefits of the deployed faculty members have been significantly increased in accordance with market rates.

The finance minister has announced the establishment of 18 new kidney dialysis centres in 18 districts of the province.

Buledi said that the government has decided to set up a regular dental college in Quetta and for this purpose, 79 faculty posts are being created in the next financial year which will be a historic process.

For the first time in the history of province, Rs2.5 billion has been allocated in the financial year 2020-2021 for purchasing an air ambulance.

In the new financial year 2020-2021, as many as 1,266 new posts have been created for the health department, besides 468 new posts have been generated for medical education.

Buledi said Rs500 million had been allocated for agriculture sector for the next financial year, which was Rs404 million for the ongoing fiscal. He said 181 teams had been formulated to prevent the locust attacks across the province. “The teams are conducting sprays in the areas to mitigate the sufferings of farmers,” he said, adding that an expo would be held to provide agriculture products access to international market for the betterment of the sector.

He said Rs640.775 million had been allocated for non-development of the agriculture sector and 1,000 motorcycles would be provided to field assistants to enhance the capacity of the agriculture department. (With additional input from APP)

Published in The Express Tribune, June 21^st, 2020.