LAHORE: The Punjab government has earmarked Rs470 billion for the health sector in the next fiscal [2022-23], a 27 per cent increase as compared to the last year allocation.

According to the budget proposals approved by the provincial cabinet on Monday, Rs296bn have been allocated for non-development and Rs174bn for development.

One of the major initiatives of the budget is a hefty increase in the PTI’s Sehat Sahulat programme allocation.

The budget document says the government has increased the allocation from Rs60bn [last year] to Rs125.4bn this year.

Provision of free drugs being resumed; hefty increase in Sehat Sahulat programme, PKLI allocations

For the first time, the Punjab government has set aside Rs5 billion hefty amount for the Pakistan Kidney & Liver Institute (PKLI) Lahore, a multi-billion project launched by the PML-N during its previous tenure.

The document claims that after coming into power in 2018, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf has victimised the PKLI by slashing its funds and replacing the entire management.

The new management later shut down the institute’s nearly hepatitis prevention and treatment centres established across the province.

It says the provision of free medicine to the patients, particularly, the cancer treatment drugs at the state-run hospitals of Punjab, were also the core initiative of the PML-N which was later closed down by the PTI government.

The Punjab government has announced restoring the same scheme from July 1 at all the public sector hospitals of the province.

The document also shares the salient features/major initiatives taken in the 2022-23 allocations stating the Punjab government has proposed establishment of new medical colleges in Narowal and Okara and the first “nursing university of Punjab” at the PKLI.

For the nursing university, it has set aside Rs3.5bn, of which Rs1bn will be released in the coming fiscal year 2022-23.

It has allocated an amount of Rs9.7bn for the Integrated Reproductive Maternal Newborn & Child Health (IRMNCH) Punjab, Rs8.9bn for the Chief Minister’s Stunting Reduction Programme and Rs2.5bn for the Prime Minister Health Initiative.

Similarly, the Punjab government has proposed Rs2bn for the Hospital Waste Management Regime in tertiary care hospitals of the province

It is also starting family planning services in Punjab by allocating Rs4bn to control the population growth.

Specialised Healthcare & Medical Education Department

For the SH&MED, the Punjab government has earmarked Rs151.5bn with a massive increase of 93pc as compared to last year.

The document says Rs5bn have been allocated for the upgrade of teaching hospitals, Rs3bn for shifting the DHQ hospitals of four districts on modern technology, Rs2bn for the upgrade of hostels of medical colleges and Rs2bn for the provision of CT Scan and MRI machines at the teaching hospitals of Punjab.

Similarly, funds worth Rs900 million have been earmarked for the provision of ventilators to state-run hospitals, Rs500m for the establishment of 70-bed trauma centre.

It has allocated Rs2.5bn for the provision of all missing facilities in the nursing colleges of the province.

Primary & Secondary Healthcare

Out of the total development budget, it has allocated Rs21bn (development budget) for the P&SHD.

The document says funds to the tune of Rs3.87bn have been allocated to run National Health Support Programme and Rs3bn to provide missing facilities in the health councils of the province.

Another amount [Rs5.8bn] has been allocated to provide missing facilities in the state-run hospitals which fall under the primary & secondary healthcare department.

Separately, an amount Rs3.1bn has been earmarked for the provision of medical equipment in these hospitals while Rs2.7bn have been allocated for the ongoing schemes.

The Punjab government has also decided to provide Rs2bn worth of funds for the procurement of MRI machines for the DHQ hospitals and Rs1bn for the procurement of CT Scan machines for the THQ hospitals of the province.

It has also specified Rs900m for the establishment of new Medical Store Depot, Rs400m for the treatment facilities to prisoners in jails and Rs400m for the treatment facilities of the special children.

The Punjab government has allocated Rs2b for the communicable disease and infection control programmes of the province.

Published in Dawn, June 14th, 2022