24 per cent increase in health budget by Punjab government completely insufficient 

Ludhiana, June 27, 2022: Dr Arun Mitra – Senior Vice President Indian Doctors for Peace and Development has termed 24% increase in the health budget by the Punjab government as completely insufficient. This would not meet the basic requirements to update the existing infrastructure. With 4731 crore rupees allocation to health out of total budget of 155860 crore rupees which amounts to 3.03% only. It may be noted that out of pocket expenditure on health is one among the highest in Punjab. Health indicators of Punjab too are very poor. Nearly 30% of the specialist doctors posts and 15% of the medical officers posts are lying vacant. This meagre will not be able to fulfil  the requirements. To bring healthcare in the state to satisfactory level health budget should be minimum of 11%. Regarding new medical colleges it has not been clarified whether these will be opened in the state sector or the private sector.