Punjab clears Rs.320 crore plan for new and upgraded hospitals

CHANDIGARH - The Punjab government Saturday approved a Rs.320 crore plan for the construction of new hospitals and upgradation of existing hospitals across the state.

Chairing a meeting of the health and family welfare department here, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal asked the New Delhi-based Hospital Services Consultancy Corporation to submit their final design and concept report for setting up and upgradation of various hospitals within three months.

He said that work on the project should be allotted by the end of September this year.

The government has proposed the construction of one new district hospital at Nawanshahr town, four new sub-divisional hospitals at Khadoor Sahib (district Tarn Taran), Bholath (Kapurthala), Moonak (Sangrur), Tapa (Barnala) and 29 community health centres (CHCs) at other places.

New equipment for district hospitals, sub-divisional hospitals, CHCs and primary health centres (PHCs) at a cost of Rs.70 crore will also be provided. These include dialysis units, mammography machines, colour-dopplers, ultrasound machines, digital X-ray machines and other machines.

The chief minister also laid stress on filling up the shortfall of qualified doctors in the state. At present, Punjab is short of 404 doctors than the sanctioned strength. As many as 349 additional doctors will be required for the new and upgraded hospitals and health institutions.

The state also requires nearly 1,700 para-medical staff.