Punjab Health Parliamentary Secretary Dr Saeed Elahi has said that for the first time in the history of the province, maximum funds have been allocated for the health sector in the annual budget of 2011-12 and the budget of health has increased to Rs 48.80 billion, which is 14 percent more than the 2010-11 budget. Elahi said that mobile health units were being purchased for providing modern health facilities to the people of far-flung areas at their doorsteps for which Rs 700 million have been allocated. A sum of Rs 5.2 billion for special pay package of doctors and nurses, Rs 23.44 billion for provision of services in the hospitals, Rs 1.92 billion for administrative expenses, Rs 120 million for public health services and Rs 647 million have been earmarked for chemical examiner and drug testing laboratories.
Elahi said that a 410-bed hospital would be constructed in Bahawalpur and Rs 50 million has been allocated for it.
In addition, two trauma centers, one near Lahore and one at Bhera Interchange on motorway would be established for which Rs 132.5 million have been allocated. He further said that four medical colleges have been established for the promotion of medical education in the province. The buildings of these colleges would be completed in the next financial year for which Rs 1.2 billion have been allocated.
Similarly, a sum of Rs 1 billion for completing the Cardiology Institute Rawalpindi, Rs 303 million for establishing Institute of Urology, Rs 150 million for expansion of Multan Institute of Cardiology, Rs 134 million for increasing 200 beds in Children Hospital Multan, Rs 100 million for setting up Fatima Jinnah Dental Institute in Lahore and Rs 205 million have been allocated for setting up burn unit in Lahore, Multan and Faisalabad.
Elahi said that an institute of breast diseases for women would be established in Rawalpindi and funds have been earmarked in the next financial budget for providing treatment facilities to the hepatitis patients. Elahi said that the funds allocated for the improvement of health sector in the next financial budget reflected the Punjab CM’s love for the people of the province.
